Parents Warned About School Holiday Porn Parade

Media Release 4 Oct 2015
Family First NZ is warning parents about the ‘Boobs on Bikes’ pornography parade happening down Auckland’s Queen St on Wednesday and says that it is shocking that an offensive parade promoting the pornography industry is allowed to freely confront families and children during the school holidays in such a public place.

“The pornography industry is indecent and offensive to many people and a parade during lunchtime down a major street and during school holidays when young families and children will be present will cause widespread offence,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“This parade is an advertisement for the porn industry which is simply a business. It is certainly not a charitable family-friendly event like the Santa Parade or a sports event or celebration.”

“Research is clear that porn harms, and leads to perceptions of sexual dominance, sex role stereotyping, viewing persons as sexual objects, sexual violence, and causes marriage and family breakdown.”

Family First has written a letter of formal complaint to the Auckland Police Area Commander and also the Minister of Police asking them to prevent the offensive ‘stunt’ happening.

“It is ironic that the police adopted a zero tolerance approach to offensive behaviour during the Cricket World Cup yet appear to be willing to yet again turn a blind eye to the promotion of the porn industry in a public place,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Section 125 of the Crimes Act clearly states that it is a crime to “willfully (do) any indecent act in any place to which the public have or are permitted to have access, or within view of any such place.” It will also be in breach of the Auckland City Council Bylaw 20.6.9 – Public Places 2008 banning public events likely to be offensive.

“Most New Zealanders know and accept that it is indecent and inappropriate to be topless in a public place – which is why there is no acceptance of that behaviour in schools, workplaces, retail shops or public gatherings,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“For those who stand for decency in public, and who seek to protect families and children, we strongly argue that a parade promoting pornography and the porn industry during lunchtime down a major street during a school holiday week will cause widespread offence to families and children, and as it is a highly public area, is therefore illegal and should be stopped by the police.”

Family First is supporting a “Harms of Porn” march on Wednesday protesting the Boobs on Bikes event, organised by Stop Demand.
ENDS