The Manawatu Standard has received a slew of emails, letters and texts for and against the Erotica Expo and Boobs on Bikes parade, which return to Palmerston North on Anzac Weekend next year.

Most correspondents have expressed disgust at the thought of bare-breasted women riding pillion around The Square, but calls for them to be arrested for indecent exposure have been squashed by police Acting Area Commander Senior Sergeant Brett Calkin.

"Essentially the indecent exposure laws revolve around genitalia," he said.

"If you can't see someone's genitalia then it's not indecent exposure.

"As for Boobs on Bikes, the fact is that it has female breasts, so it doesn't come under the indecent exposure crime."

Police received complaints when Boobs on Bikes was last held in Palmerston North two years ago, though none of those resulted in prosecutions, Mr Calkin said.

Women caught exposing their breasts in the city on a "normal" day could be prosecuted for disorderly behaviour, but to expose them at a well-publicised event, such as Boobs on Bikes, made it difficult for police to act, he said.

"It's up to personal choice. Having said that, if people feel offended by it when it occurs, and I'm sure some will, they are certainly welcome to come into the police station and make a complaint."

The timing of expo has also raised the ire of RSA members, who are unimpressed about sharing their Anzac day of remembrance with the sex-themed adult show.

READER FEEDBACK

Against the expo

Erotica expo - every one has seen boobs b4, do they have 2 parade it? Have these girls not exposed themselves enough in movies? Keep it outa palmy. What a way 2 ruin Anzac Day.

A big no, erotica expo - just low life, no morals Ann Hodge

How disgusting that our city accepts naked boobs in our streets 4 public viewing. Funny how replacing cross on clocktower was rejected - yet you'll shove this in our faces.

For the expo

Go Erotica! Stop being judgemental and go and see what it's like. As they say, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I've been and loved it. Shantel

Erotica expo is great for city - everyone should go! It's all good fun. Dean

SAN BRUNO, Calif.—YouTube is calling it a nod to its diversity of content. CBS News is saying it's in response to pressure from parents. But whatever the reason, the massive video-sharing site today incorporated parental filtering mechanisms into its product.

"Diversity of content is one of the great things about YouTube," wrote Jamie Davidson, associate product manager, on the YouTube blog. "But we know that some of you want a more controlled experience. That's why we're announcing Safety Mode, an opt-in setting that helps screen out potentially objectionable content that you may prefer not to see or don't want others in your family to stumble across while enjoying YouTube. An example of this type of content might be a newsworthy video that contains graphic violence such as a political protest or war coverage. While no filter is 100% perfect, Safety Mode is another step in our ongoing desire to give you greater control over the content you see on the site.

"It's easy to opt in to Safety Mode: Just click on the link at the bottom of any video page. You can even lock your choice on that browser with your YouTube password. To learn more, check out the video below.

"And remember, ALL content must still comply with our Community Guidelines. Safety Mode isn't fool proof, but it provides a greater degree of control over your YouTube experience. Safety Mode is rolling out to all users throughout the day; watch for the new link at the bottom of any YouTube page."

According to the CBS story, "Marsali Hancock, the president of Internet safety advocacy group iKeepSafe.org, was one of several parents who started complaining to YouTube nearly two years ago, urging the company to do more to keep teens from seeing sexually explicit, violent and other dangerous content, such as a video promoting anorexia, while still enabling them to enjoy the site."

Like the word "pornography," however, Hancock has stretched the meaning of the term "sexually explicit" beyond recognition. 18 USC defines it as, "Actual or simulated sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; bestiality; masturbation; sadistic or masochistic abuse; or lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person."

Of course, Hancock and other parents may have good reason to want to control what their children see on YouTube, and the addition of such controls is arguably long overdue, but the slow degradation of the correct meaning of such important and legally meaningful words and terms also is cause for concern.

HOLMBY HILLS, Calif.—TMZ has posted a late-breaking story to its site claiming that Playboy shareholders are fighting mad about the falling fortunes of the company, and blame Hef.

The gossip site says it has obtained a class action lawsuit filed by a Playboy shareholder who claims “the company is falling apart and Hugh has intentionally sabotaged two potential deals in the last 6 months to sell the company at a decent price.”

Complaining that "today, the price of a Playboy magazine is far higher than the price of Playboy common stock," the lawsuit also purportedly contains an analysis of the company by an investment firm, that says, in part, "We think the wildcard here is Hugh Hefner. … If you were Hugh Hefner, 81, would you give up the parade of busty blonds, the fancy mansion and the reality TV show for a payout?"

The article does not name any of the plaintiffs in the suit but does say they believe “Hefner runs roughshod over the shareholders and they want unspecified damages.”

It was only a few months ago that Bill Asher, co-chief executive of Vivid Entertainment Group—and a former Playboy executive—told DailyFinance that he owns 1 million shares of stock in the company.

"Playboy is not in trouble," Asher said at the time. "Playboy needs to get a deal. ... Certainly, anybody who has a brain would be interested."

Ironically, considering the reported shareholder lawsuit alleging Hefner has sabotaged pending deals, Asher's take in December was that the legendary octogenarian was ready to let go.

Avn.com Jan 22nd, 2010 11:00 AM by Tom Hymes

LOS ANGELES—The notion that hardcore pornography is addictive and, even worse, a corrosive hazard to individuals, families and society is running headlong into studies conducted by noted researchers that show precisely the opposite—that hardcore pornography is good for you.

A blog post Friday by Dr. Gad Saad on the Psychology Today website makes just that argument, citing two recent studies, including one conducted by Gert Martin Hald and Neil M. Malamuth.

"I should mention," writes Saad, "that Neil Malamuth is a highly regarded scholar of pornography who has often argued for its supposed ill effects. Hence, if there exists a possibility of an a priori bias here, it would be in hoping to find that pornography yields negative consequences."

But that is not what the researchers found in their survey of 688 young Danish adults (men = 316; women = 372). Instead, "Hald and Malamuth found that respondents construed the viewing of hardcover pornography as beneficial to their sex lives, their attitudes towards sex, their perceptions and attitudes towards members of the opposite sex, toward life in general, and over all. The obtained beneficial effects were statistically significant for all but one measure across both sexes. Now here is the kicker: A positive correlation was obtained between the amount of hardcover pornography that was viewed and the impact of the benefits reaped. This positive correlation was found for both sexes. In other words, the more that one watched porn, the stronger the benefits (for both sexes)!"

The second study yielded similar results. "In a paper published in 2009 in the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, Milton Diamond reviewed a very broad number of studies that have explored the supposed ill effects of pornography," writes Saad.

Diamond concludes, "Indeed, the data reported and reviewed suggests that the thesis is myth and, if anything, there is an inverse causal relationship between an increase in pornography and sex crimes. Further, considering the findings of studies of community standards and wide spread usage of SEM [sexually explicit material], it is obvious that in local communities as nationally and internationally, porn is available, widely used and felt appropriate for voluntary adult consumption. If there is a consensus against pornography it is in regard to any SEM that involves children or minors in its production or consumption. Lastly we see that objections to erotic materials are often made on the basis of supposed actual, social or moral harm to women. No such cause and effect has been demonstrated with any negative consequence."

For Saad, whose Psychology Today blog is on the nature and nurture of consumption, the results are compelling and somewhat conclusive. "This post should not be construed as my being in favor of pornography," he says," as my personal opinion is irrelevant to the matter at hand. Rather I am reporting on recent

Jan 27th, 2010 01:57 PM by Mark Kernes; http://avn.com

PORN VALLEY—Veteran star Janine Lindemulder has received the OK from U.S. District Judge Thomas Coffin to appear in an as-yet-untitled Vivid movie before she must report to a Portland, Ore., halfway house on Feb. 5 for violating her probation on her income tax case.

"This is a major victory," the embattled star told AVN. "They had two hearings involving the U.S. government. The judge had said absolutely not, and what he was basing his decision on was that he had watched the Linda Lovelace documentary where she was abused, and he thought the industry was as it was portrayed in the Linda Lovelace thing. We finally convinced him, saying it's not like that whatsoever, and so he didn't approve it; what he said was, 'I'm not approving it but I'm not denying it, so if you want to do it, go ahead,' but he didn't want to put his stamp of approval on it. So it is a go, and we're going to shoot that before I have to report, but it was really exciting, because for porn to go up against the government and win is always exciting."

At Janine's original hearing on Jan. 20, Judge Coffin had forbidden the star from appearing in any form of adult entertainment—movies, dancing, webcam—until after the completion of her sentence, which is scheduled to occur on Sept. 7, 2010. But Janine pressed the issue of her work, and her attorney filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider his ruling, which motion was granted today.

"What we were fighting for was the right to work," Janine explained. "They had stopped all my work as if it was a hobby, and I said, 'This isn't a hobby; this is something that has been my career for 23 years,' and they wouldn't let me do anything in the industry. I said, 'You guys are leaving me to be destitute, and the only thing I can do is sell my belongings, and then when I get out of the halfway house, I'll have absolutely nothing: no car, no furniture, no nothing.' And finally, he agreed that we could do the movie, and this movie will keep us afloat until we're back. It's exciting, and right now, I'm trying to beg Jill Kelly to be a part of it. It's good; it's really exciting."

Janine had been consulting on the movie's script with award-winning director B. Skow, and before the judge's Jan. 20 ruling, principal shooting had been scheduled to begin last week. The schedule has now been rearranged so that all camera work can be accomplished before Janine's deadline.

"It's my first anal movie, which I've never done before," she said. "And it's with my husband, so we've been practicing, and we're really going to put every little ounce of effort into this and do the best we can, and hopefully people will just eat it up. I haven't seen what [B. Skow] has done, but from what I've heard, he does vignettes similar to what Andrew Blake does, but nastier or grittier or something like that. So we're right there with him."

"I feel like a caged animal that's just been released," she continued. "It's been four years since I shot a movie, and to do my first anal with my husband and to actually win against the government, it just fuels the fire, and I'm ready to explode on screen."

Although there had been rumors of several planned Janine projects to be lensed before her return to custody, Janine says that the Vivid movie will be the only one in which she will participate.

"This one is enough to keep us afloat," she reflected. "I have to report to Portland to a halfway house on Feb. 5, and I'm actually really looking forward to it because it's a really good organization, and I'll just do this one movie; my storage will be paid, and my bills and stuff, but as soon as I'm out of the halfway house and off probation—probably not even off probation; as soon as I'm out of the halfway house in four months, we're back, and my next role is to do an epic blockbuster with Vaniity; just her and I on the cover, and it's going to be her and I equally, and it's going to be good; definitely a big, big, huge comeback."

(Photo Credit: earlmiller.com)

By STEPHANIE SIMON

A pumpkin runner

The event is exactly what its name implies. Scores of men and women pour into downtown streets for a late-night jog, wearing not a stitch between the jack-o'-lanterns on their heads and the sneakers on their feet.

For nearly a decade, naked pumpkin runners did their thing unmolested, stampeding through the frigid dark past crowds of admirers who hooted, hollered and tossed candy. But last year the run attracted more than 150 participants, and Police Chief Mark Beckner fears things are getting out of hand. "It's a free-for-all," he says.

So he intends to stop it.

He will station more than 40 officers on the traditional four-block route tonight, with two SWAT teams patrolling nearby. All have orders to arrest gourd-topped streakers as sex offenders.

Runners and their fans are outraged. This is not the free-spirited Boulder they know and love. "It kind of reminds me of what's happening in Tehran," says Andy Schmidt, a lawyer. "They're pre-emptively outlawing a gathering."

The American Civil Liberties Union has fired off a letter accusing the police of violating citizens' constitutional rights to express whatever it is they're expressing when they slip hollowed-out pumpkins over their heads and race buck naked down the Pearl Street pedestrian mall.

“This is a great coup for our 10 year milestone show – we plan this to be our biggest ever event with more stars than ever before, more variety, more booths, more entertainment and now more, at least in terms of volume, more breasts” said Steve Crow.

Chelsea Charms achieved her large breasts through the use of polypropylene string breast implants.

On her website, Charms says her measurements are 153XXX-23-34, and that her breasts each weigh 26 pounds (11.8 kg). Only a small number of women in the world have such implants.

The past year has not all been smooth sailing for the so-called ‘Crow Porn Empire’ with the recession biting deep and profits plunging lower than Chelsea Charm’s neckline. But being nothing if not resilient, Crow is determined to recover and he see’s a successful 2009 Auckland Erotica Lifestyles Expo as an important part of that process. To make sure that happens he is lining up the biggest pool of adult entertainers ever to travel down under, augmented by some unique international acts including Australia’s top hypnotist Mark Anthony and the world’s only penis painter, the world renowned ‘Pricasso”. Details of those attending will be posted on Erotica’s website by August 1^st.

“It’s a bit early for us to be announcing our attractions for this year’s show but a recent media attack by an anti-porn lobby group has prompted me to correct their published misinformation that Steve Crow and Erotica are gone.” says Crow. “Nothing could be further from the truth. While it is true circumstances beyond our control forced me to liquidate part of my business recently, Erotica is going ahead as planned and the adversity has only made me more determined to make this our biggest show ever”. “It is my plan that Erotica will expand internationally in 2010 with negotiations already well underway with an overseas venue” he added.

Chelsea Charms will be appearing as a VIP Guest in StarZone at the Erotica Lifestyles Expo 25-27 September at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane and at Boobs on Bikes in Auckland’s Queen Street on Wednesday 23^rd September. See the Erotica website for details.

Chelsea will be available for media interviews during the week 21 to 27 September. For bookings please call Michelle on 09-526 3552 or mobile 021-430 675 or email michelle@eroticaexpo.co.nz

Photos available upon request.

It wanted to ban the event under a bylaw that gave it the power to refuse a permit if it believed there were "objectively justifiable and reasonable grounds".

Council officers saw no such grounds and said a new bylaw would have to be passed. Now, another Mayor, John Banks, wants to stop the parade, saying it exploits women. Duly, a new bylaw has appeared. Predictably, it creates only further problems, and will serve merely to provide invaluable publicity for Steve Crow's next parade of bare-breasted women.

The new bylaw declares the council can turn down a permit for an event if it "reasonably believes there are any other objectively justifiable and reasonable grounds for declining consent, for example that the event will be or is likely to be offensive". It does not define the word "offensive", or attempt to align it to prevailing public taste. It is, therefore, hostage to all manner of interpretation and to litigation. Already, Mr. Crow is on his favorite hobby-horse, claiming the bylaw contravenes the freedom of expression enshrined in the Bill of Rights Act.

He might also have added that it could be seized upon by future councils to ban events far removed in character and intent from those the present administration had in mind. In reality, councils have little recourse other than a bylaw such as this. But they step into quicksand when they try to rule on taste.

More often than not, they sink. Auckland City councilors would, in fact, do well to cast an eye at the police, who seem to take a more relaxed view. Or at their own officials, one of whom has advised Mr. Crow that council officers were likely to recommend permitting the parade. The councilors should also recognize that any decision by them banning the parade using the highly subjective "offensive" criteria will be much easier in the making than the rationalizing.

Many people do find such displays indecent and offensive. They have the right to enjoy the use of public places without topless women suddenly being thrust before them. But this must be balanced by the right to freedom of expression and the right to enjoy a frivolous occasion. The obvious reference point is the context of the event. The main objective of the Boobs on Bikes parade is to promote an erotica expo. Somewhat oddly, tens of thousands flock to see it, and it garners much advance publicity. Those offended might struggle to convince others they were taken unawares.

Mr. Banks has already acknowledged the difficulties of definition. But he and Citizens and Ratepayers councilors voted down a City Vision amendment that would have injected specificity and objectivity. This defined "offensive" to include events with an "R-rated or an age-restricted commercial activity involving full or partial nudity and/or the simulation of sexual activity" within normal business hours on a pedestrian thoroughfare.

It would, however, have placed decision-making on the likes of the Boobs on Bikes parade in the hands of council staff. The majority of councilors want to reserve that for themselves. They are missing the bigger picture. Any regulatory response would introduce a degree of restriction out of keeping with the parade's potential for harm. Attempting to act as a judge and arbiter of public taste is a fruitless exercise. The council's best policy would be to butt out. In the natural course of events, Mr. Crow's parade will soon lose both its attraction and its audience.

Mr Crow said yesterday he was not interested in what a bunch of shopkeepers thought and was pressing on with plans for a lunchtime parade of topless women through central Wellington on November 7. Last week's Auckland parade drew 100,000 spectators and he expected it could draw 50,000 in Wellington.

"We're not doing the parade for the shopkeepers, we're doing it for the public," said Mr Crow, whose parades are designed to promote his Erotic Lifestyle Expo.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny said though 86 per cent of central Wellington businesses thought it would have no effect on trade, 67 per cent of chamber members said it would not be good for the city's brand. "We don't think that parade is going to enhance our image as the arts and cultural capital of New Zealand."

Porn baron Steve Crow probably has one of the best publicity machines in the country - the Auckland City Council, writes The Marlborough Express in an editorial.

Yesterday a group of people rode down Auckland's Queen St, many of them topless. As in the past, thousands gathered on the side of the road to watch the spectacle in the hopes of catching a glimpse of some breasts.

Mr Crow didn't need to spend any money advertising the event as it has been covered by most of the newspapers around the country and has featured on radio and television over the past few days.

The reason for this is the Auckland City Council refused to grant Mr Crow a permit for his parade, saying it was in contravention of a bylaw passed last month giving it the power to turn down permits for events deemed "likely to be offensive".

Not happy with the council decision, Mr Crow said he was going to to go ahead with the parade anyway, prompting the council to instruct top law firm Simpson Grierson to ask for the court's intervention.

The court did intervene and said Mr Crow's Boobs on Bike parade, as the event is known, could go ahead today as it did not break any laws. The judge said the event was tacky but disagreed with councillors that it was offensive.

She said though opponents might find the parade offensive or tasteless, the fact that 80,000 people attended last year meant a significant number do not agree. The estimated 100,000 in attendance yesterday would seem to reinforce her view. Opinions of whether this type of event is offensive and should be allowed or not are split.

Opponents say the parade demeans women and say pornography leads to sexual abuse and rape. On the other hand, the supporters talk about democracy and freedom of expression. It is alarming that in this day and age we still have heated debates and confrontations about frivolous issues like this. Surely we have more important issues to occupy our minds than a handful of ladies showing their breasts in the street for about 45 minutes on one day of the year.

We do live in a free society where all people have the right to express themselves in any way as long as it is within the law. If jiggling your breasts while riding on the back of a motorcycle makes you happy, then you are free to do so.

Similarly, if you are offended by the sight of topless women in public then look away or make sure you don't go the affected area of the city during the time the event is on. And if you want to stage a protest against the Boobs on Bikes then you are free to do that too as long as it is within the law. Boobs on Bikes is a tacky event aimed at raising publicity for Mr Crow's erotica expo.

The Auckland City Council has ensured that Mr Crow won't have to spend a cent on advertising his event. They have done it for him.

The City Council is seeking an interim injunction to stop the controversial Queen Street parade. But pornographer Steve Crow says that will not stop him. He is vowing Boobs on Bikes will go ahead, just under another guise.

Steve Crow says his Boobs on Bikes parade is just harmless freedom of expression but Auckland City Council says he is using New Zealand's best known street to peddle porn. Last month the Council passed a bylaw aimed at stopping events deemed offensive, but Crow vowed the parade would go on.

Today, the Council's city development committee voted in favour of seeking a court injunction to enforce their bylaw, with only one councillor voting against the motion. Crow says he was not told about today's meeting and doubts the courts will grant an injunction but if they do he will simply rename his parade.

Instead, he says the parade will become a protest - something you do not need a permit for. Crow met with police today. He says they will be on hand to manage traffic and look after public safety but do not have the power to enforce a civil injunction and given the parade is not illegal they will not be able to stop it.

But the councillor who asked for the injunction, says if need be, she will go ahead with her threat to lie down in the path of the parade to stop it and she says many other women will join her, meaning next Wednesday's parade could be even more of a spectacle than last year.

Organizer of the 'Boobs on Bikes' parade and porn baron Steve Crow applied to the council for a permit to hold his annual parade on Aug 20 but it was declined on the basis it was offensive.

The Auckland District Council on August 18 argued in court that the parade of topless women riding down Queen Street in cars and on motorbikes breached its newly amended bylaw banning offensive public events.

Auckland District Court Judge Nicola Mathers rejected the plea by the council saying she did not agree, even if it was tacky. According to the judge females walking down the street topless was not unlawful, but added her decision was made by considering the law not morals.

Meanwhile, Crow was complimentary of the judge, saying she reached the right decision. This was an incredibly balanced and well thought-out and complete decision and I am amazed that any person can listen to all we heard in the court and reach that decision in 24 hours, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying. (ANI)

controversial Erotica Lifestyles Expo billboard showing naked female breasts has been stolen from the Centrepoint Theatre building.

The billboard was put up on the Pitt Street side of the building not far from Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

This had sparked an indecency complaint and protest by city mother Philippa Peck last week.

But the 6 by 3m sign went missing in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Erotica Expo event co-ordinator Sandy Watts said although they were aware of the complaints, the council had been in touch and no decision had been made to remove the billboard.

"The word from them is it's not their policy to enter into debate on what's decent or not."

So she said whoever took the billboard did so independently and illegally.

The sign cost $800 to produce and the advertising spot, now left empty, cost Erotica Expo organisers several thousand dollars.

Ms Watts said it would have required a lot of effort and planning to reach and prise the billboard off its nails and staples. "I hope whoever has it in their possession is enjoying it as much as anyone else would."

Mrs Peck said she and some fellow parent protesters were all geared up to protest on the road beside the billboard, but were surprised when they found it to be gone. "It was a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go."

But she was happy to see the sign gone before school started back on Monday.

Ms Watts said if the culprits were to return the billboard they would consider giving them free tickets to the expo, otherwise they would spend $800 to replace the sign.

The Auckland City Council has approved a controversial topless porn parade down Queen St.

Last year the council refused to grant a permit for the annual Boobs on Bikes parade but said it was legal anyway.

The event is a lead-up to the annual Erotica Expo, organised by pornographer and Auckland mayoral candidate Steve Crow.

The police had also said the parade could go ahead because in this day and age it was not indecent.

However, this year organisers have been granted a permit.

Council chief executive David Rankin was unavailable for comment last night about why the council had changed its mind.

Parade organiser Sandy Watts said she had met council staff on several occasions to discuss the parade and was happy with the result.

"We're pleased that the obvious public approval of a fun event like ours has resulted in a much more collaborative approach from the council this year," she said. "They even wished us every success with our activity on the permit."

Last year Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard called the parade "morally repugnant" and said he was keen to review the bylaw to stop any more topless parades down Queen St.

Boobs on Bikes last year attracted tens of thousands of onlookers.

It featured between 30 and 50 topless porn stars in cars and on the back of motorbikes.

The parade, which commences at midday on Wednesday, will start from Upper Queen St, move on to Wellesley St, along Albert St and finish on Quay St.

A record crowd of more than 30,000 people are expected to attend the eighth annual Erotica Expo in Auckland in a fortnight.

Erotica has been part of the Auckland expo calendar since 2000. The August 24-26 extravaganza of stalls, samples and advice is New Zealand’s largest health, sexuality and lifestyle exhibition.

Organiser Sandy Watts said 27,000 visitors attended the Auckland event last year.

"With the Palmerston North and two Christchurch events, the upcoming expo in Auckland will be the 11th such expo in New Zealand.

More than 175,000 people have been through the erotica expo doors since the event was launched in 2000.

In addition to the entertainment and erotica for sale, the exhibits promote everything from books to photography as well as some that educate the public about sexual health issues.

Dedicated to information, the expo is not only about live stage shows and jelly wrestling, but about sharing the latest breakthroughs in research, development and products.

From lingerie to motorised stimuli it’s all here. Highly successful since it first began in 2000, the event incorporates all facets of all things adult.

"Erotica is like no other event in New Zealand – restricted to people over 18 years, it enables adults to shop, be entertained, relax and discover new products and services.

"An independent survey of visitors has found the expo attracts mostly couples or groups of friends, mostly aged between 24 and 44 yrs and mostly earners that are above the average income bracket.

"The most exciting and interesting statistic from the last two events in Christchurch and Auckland showed the percentage of women attendees is now over 50 percent.

"So we are moving in a very exciting direction with our exhibitors and entertainment geared to match the audience.’’

Watts said the expo will be a place to learn, see, understand, try, discover, demo, touch, hear and understand new products and services in a fun couple friendly environment.‘’

"Many middle-class married couples attend the expo not simply to gawk at pornographic actors but to challenge the sensual side of their relationships. We can sincerely say people view the expo as a place to recognise the positive aspects of their relationships. ‘’

NZ's top erotic online book shop High Jinx and best selling erotic author, Christine Leov Lealand will feature at this year’s event. A leading New Zealand comedienne Jan Maree will be the MC.

The Auckland Sexual Health Clinic is also on site to offer advice and support.

The expo will next be seen at Palmerston North on November 9, 10 and 11.

It was all over in a flash, so to speak: a dozen bikes, eight sets of bare breasts, a couple of bare-topped male revue hunks, studs, leathers and boots.

Boobs on Bikes, two by two, led by Auckland pornographer Steve Crow aboard a VW trike, took just over 40 minutes to traverse the streets of conservative Christchurch heralding the Erotica Expo here this weekend.

Few people gathered at street corners along the "promotional ride" route, but a lunchtime crowd estimated at up to 4000 thronged Cathedral Square for a peek.

Staff at the Christchurch City Council headquarters in Tuam St lined the office windows despite Mayor Garry Moore's best attempts to avoid giving the "lifestyles" show any free publicity.

An over-excited group of St Andrews College schoolboys proved their sporting prowess by running alongside the parade briefly.

The porn stars who did bare their breats faced little risk of sunburn on a grey overcast day. But it all passed with little fuss.

Police reported no problems.

- NZPA

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10426691

Christchurch men are expressing disappointment at level of nudity in this afternoon's Boobs on Bikes Parade.

Local men, and a number of women, turned out in their thousands to get a glimpse at the the controversial line-up. Some are saying they did not get the eyeful they expected when about eight scantily clad girls rode through the city centre on the back of motorcycles - and several topless man accompanied them. Disgruntled Christchurch men say there were not enough girls and it was all over too soon.

The parade has enough pulling power to be bad for business for at least one Christchurch bakery. The owner of Broadway Foods, who wants to remain nameless, says her customer base seemed to have halved today. She says she is concerned there might be a sickness going around that only affects men. The bakery owner is considering employing the topless women to work in her shop next year to make up for this year's loss.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=113325

If you were at New Zealand's Boobs on Bikes parade over the weekend and saw something/someone that particularly suited you, then they probably won't be the winner of Iceland's Alternative Beauty Contest. The April 18 contest in Isafjoerdur, northwest Iceland, plans to

"... reward contestants' wrinkles, saggy breasts and other bodily imperfections ... (Says an organizer:) We think it's just a coincidence if you have big breasts. How come this is beautiful? We are trying to show how ridiculous this is."

Anybody (man or woman) over 20 who's never has cosmetic surgery is eligible to enter. Only problem is, until now there have only been 5 entries. Whether that's because nobody can find a way to travel to Isafjoerdur or nobody wants an "Anti-Beauty" crown, New Zealand porn parades certainly attract more attention. And they have better weather, too.

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/.../Saggy+Breasts+Wanted+in+Iceland

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21333226-5001028,00.html

The students from Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch were given detentions for truancy after appearing on the front page of The Press, the newspaper reported today.

Six of the boys appeared clearly on the newspaper, dressed in school uniforms and cheering on the parade.

The event, called Boobs on Bikes, is held in various New Zealand cities during the year to promote a sex expo.

Bare-chested women and men take part in the parade, driving slowly around on motorcycles.

The boys did not miss any classes, but had used their lunch passes to head to the parade, rather than to go home for lunch.

"It was worth it," the paper quoted Year 12 student James Hardy as saying.

"It was funny as."

But the school was not amused, initially seeking the boys' expulsion, but later downgrading the punishment to detentions.

"I think we have had enough publicity about that," was all a representative from the school said.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21333226-5001028,00.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/3984873a6530.html

Several Shirley Boys' High School students appeared on the front page of The Press on Saturday clapping and cheering at barebreasted women on motorbikes who were part of a sex expo promotion in central Christchurch the previous day.

The students were yesterday given detentions for truancy by the school dean and will today appear before school principal John Laurenson.

"It was worth it," Year 12 student James Hardy said. "It was funny as."

He and his mates had used lunch passes to leave the school grounds but rather than go home for lunch they headed to town. They did not miss any classes.

The boys had seen the school dean yesterday, and said they had been asked to fill out "signout forms" - effectively indicating that they would leave the school permanently - but they refused.

Instead the boys were given after-school detentions and would meet with the headmaster today.

"I don't want to leave school just because of that," Hardy said.

Laurenson could not comment on whether the boys had been handed sign-out forms but said he had no doubt the dean would have "torn strips off them".

"They're a mile out of order. They were AWOL from school. They weren't allowed to be downtown."

The boys would be disciplined for truancy but none would be suspended or expelled, he said.

Boys had to have permission from parents to leave school at lunch time.

Laurenson described the parade as "sordid and a bit tacky" and said he was disappointed by the incident. Many people had contacted him to express their disapproval.

Year 12 student Travis Bent said: "I don't think we did anything wrong - it was lunch time."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/3984873a6530.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3974987a6009.html

Upset callers yesterday objected to the promotion of a sex expo to be held in Christchurch this weekend.

Inspector Gary Knowles said yesterday that while police understood some people would be upset about porn stars being driven through Christchurch streets on motorcycles and in open-top cars, it was a "moral, not a criminal issue".

"This is not a police issue," he said. "We have taken legal advice, and unless there is a breach of the peace we cannot intervene."

City leaders suggested that paying attention to the stunt would play into the hands of the expo organisers.

"The worst thing we can do is focus on it," Mayor Garry Moore said last night. "These guys just want people to get indignant to publicise the event. I'm not going to go into a spasm of moral indignation over it."

Over 100,000 people lined Auckland's Queen Street for the Boobs on Bikes ride last year after Mayor Dick Hubbard declared such a display "morally repugnant" and councillors attempted to ban the parade.

Anglican Dean of Christchurch Peter Beck said he agreed with Moore. "This sort of thing debases the human body, which is a beautiful thing, but to make a big fuss creates more publicity for them (event organisers)."

Knowles said "not huge numbers" of people called yesterday to complain about the parade.

Police have been referring complaints to the Christchurch City Council.

Council transport and city streets manager Michael Aitken said the council had not received an application for consent for the ride, and it did not tend to stop parades unless there was a traffic safety issue.

"The standard of dress of participants is not a matter that the council can control," he said.

Expo spokeswoman Sandy Watts said no application would be made because Boobs on Bikes was a promotional ride rather than an official parade.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3974987a6009.html

Now it's Christchurch's turn and Cathedral Square is the location for Friday's Boobs on Bikes. There have (again) been a number of complaints, but it seems that riding naked on a motorcycle is not illegal, and the parade needs no council approval because it's labeled "promotional" rather than "official." Police can only intervene if there's a "breach of the peace." That's possible if around 100,000 onlookers--the number who watched the breasts roll by in Auckland--get too excited.

http://www.jaunted.com/story/.../Boobs+on+Bikes+Ride+Again

http://www.crime.co.nz/displaynews.asp?id=70725

Christchurch police say the city's Boobs on Bikes parade is not illegal, and are asking people to stop calling them with complaints.

Police have received a number of complaints about the Erotica Expo publicity parade which will make its way through the central city at Friday lunchtime.

Inspector Gary Knowles says police understand why people are upset, however he says it is a moral not a criminal issue. He says the women in the parade will not ride through the city with bare breasts, but will be clad in skimpy clothing. Mr Knowles says complaints to the police will not stop the parade.

http://www.crime.co.nz/displaynews.asp?id=70725

"Boobs on Bikes" parade not approved by Council

The Christchurch City Council has not approved or received an application to hold the proposed "Boobs on Bikes" parade on Friday, 2 March, from Erotica event organisers.

Council usually approves processions if traffic and crowd management considerations have been taken care of, says Transport and City Streets manager Michael Aitken.

Council does not stop parades unless there is a traffic safety issue and does not usually involve the police in processions except to help manage traffic and crowds.

"Until Council has received an application, we can't really say much more, except that this application would be considered on these criteria."

To prescribe the standard of dress of participants is not a matter that the Council can control Mr Aitken says.

ENDS

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0702/S00284.htm

THE NAKED TRUTH Sex is just a business for porn king Steve Crow and he doesn’t care about critics. Alan Perrott joins him for a surprisingly boring day at the office-

IF NEW ZEALAND porn has a Ground Zero it would have to be Steve Crow’s desk so it’s no surprise to find he enjoys some stirring form his black leather captain Kirk chair. After all, science tells us that guys are base, virtually stimulated breasts, so who would deny him a few visits to his happy place during a hard day of plotting moral ruin? No argument here. Ferrari make damn saucy cars. Check out the clean lines on Jean Alesi’s F1, phwoar; the classic shot of Fangio’s 1956 race car, ooooo; and a montage of some new variant giving the gladeye to an old tank, mmmmm baby.

Of course, this being the headquarters of the country’s largest importer of “adult entertainment products” there are still plenty of exposed bodies on the walls, ladies such as siren, with their Westie-styled names and come hither Kath and Kim hornbag pouts.

The standouts lurk in the far corner, a few healthy handfuls belong to some enthusiastic locals which add a rather “readers’ wives” touch to the tender messages (“happy hard-ons Steve”) gracing the more, ahhh, professional efforts.

There’s a topless shot of a former Herald on Sunday gossip columnist taken in 2002, endorsed with a scribbled “God I’ve got great tits,” alongside a group shot lineup of pop culture queens: Charlotte Dawson, Nicky Watson and Jo Cotton who maintained a well-placed arm to keep her chest within PG requirements. Bless. They’ll soon be joined by another Watson pic taken at this year’s Erotica Expo –which Steve Crow also owns- and he’s still hoping Sunday Star Times’ gossipmeister Bridget Saunders will let him complete the box set.

Outsiders my bridle at such ribald wallflowers, but titillating photos and graphic gynaecological imagery seem to be the equivalent of the fire exit signs at the Mt Wellington office of Vixen Direct. They no longer register.

Steve Crow could even be the classic case of the fish who no longer sees the water he swims in. His craft basks in a long and well-documented connection with three of the nastiest “-ations” – exploitation, degradation, and humiliation – but he argues that exposing hypocritical, closeted attitudes toward sex is the industry’s best path to rehabilitation.

“I guess it’s a case of wishing people would get over themselves. What’s so perverse about human sexuality? What’s the big deal? It’s not as though penises and vaginas are particularly rare, there’s several billion of each in the world, so why are we so ashamed of looking at them…” Over the past decade he has established himself as the face of New Zealand porn and his reputation as a media savvy, straight shooter has enabled him take advantage of the shock, horror coverage of his unsavoury plan to feature a live birth in his skin flick, Ripe.

Crow is unashamedly up front and takes every opportunity to reinforce his standing as point man for all things X-rated. He really doesn’t give a toss if you don’t what he does as long as you know what he does - even court action against the New Zealand Stock Exchange for adopting the same name as his NZX porn mag was more about the publicity than any legal umbrage.

And it worked. Reporters sought his political views during the run-up to the election, the annual Erotica sextival attracts 25,000 plus, and he gets regular exposure in print and on television, including a hip guest spot as “producer” of fake porn film Anal Mania on Eating Media Lunch.

RIGHT Now, however, his most prized pet is freshly minted, glossy magazine, Uncensored, auspiciously launched on September 11.

It’s “Just the facts, for a change” mission statement replaces the raunch of NZX with a whiff of Winston Peters sloganeering. Uncensored targets those who favour tinfoil hats over crusty raincoats, and the only nakid breast to be admired anywhere in its 127 pages illustrates a story about mammography.

Crow became involved only after editor Jonathan Eison asked for some funding. He pumped $50,000 into producing the first edition, a diverse omnibus of conspiracies ranging from September 11, vaccinations and the colour of Mars, to New Zealand pre-history.

After four weeks, all 10,000 copies had been shipped out to their 1300 retail outlets and a second printing was being considered. Issue two will not be out for two months, but the early success has Crow rubbing his hands together over its potential to rattle some ivory cages. A $50,000 reward may soon be offered for damaging dirt on Destiny's Bishop Brian Tamaki.

"Now I can put a lot of people on notice that if they have any skeletons in their closet and we can find them, then I'm going to publish them." Cue dastardly cackle. Crow seems to relish the company of people with fringe interests. When we first met at Erotica he was chatting with a mate Kelvyn Alp, the equally bald leader of the Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand Armed Intervention Force. Today he's having lunch with, Graham Brimble, organiser of the annual Auckland Gun Show and proud owner of a collection that includes three vintage Vickers machineguns.

Jonathan Eisen has attracted his own notoriety based on a publishing record boasting such wild-eyed titles as People in power: How to make the government Listen to You, The GE Sellout, The Poisoning of New Zealand and, of course, Suppressed Inventions and Other Discoveries, which, among tales of water-driven cars, tried to convince desperate cancer sufferers to eschew conventional treatments.

As a quartet they make up a conspiratorial job lot of campaigners for individual rights, freedom of expression and taking it however you can to the Man.

Obscured among the nude bits in his office are an MBA from Melbourne University above an MSc in ecology and certificate in the principle and practices of radiochemistry from Auckland. He's also the wallet behind the NZ Veterans Trust, which raises cash to take old diggers on tours to the old killing fields an d you can't get much more traditional values than those of offering a hand to our old warriors.

Still, he has more than a hint of the Antichrist about him when he arrives at work on this lovely spring morning. To avoid confusing messages he arrives in an Erotica car wearing his black Erotica regalia. The flesh visible from the base of his front rower’s neck to the top of his gleaming bald neck is pink, with two red-rimmed slits for eyes in the middle. The only bling is a single gold earring.

He's banking up from a rather late night, a post-Erotica House strip club.

My plan is to watch first-hand how you go about spreading moral decay and degeneracy though a nation of innocents.

Once settled in his office and clutching his first coffee, Crow anticipates a messy day. Erotica finished nine days ago, but striving to do the Devil's work has left half his staff off sick, not that the boss seems too cut up about it.

"The show tends to do that every year, it just wears everyone out. I'm usually the only one who gets through; I guess I'm a workaholic; I've always worked long hours. I don't find it stressful, but the modern employee isn't used to those sorts of hours."'

"These sorts of hours" equate to about 100 hours a week during the run-up to Erotica and 14 hour stretches during the three-day sexathon.

"There's a lot of tension, it's a very intense period of time," Crow says. "A lot of pressure and a lot of people, but we only run on a small crew. There are 11 of us; we're not a big operation. But with so many away I'll be doing stuff I don't normally have to."

Even messy days are busy days: the company that began in the garage of Crow's former business and romantic partner Fiona Gibb is still working on expanding its slice of the country's estimated $30 million porn pie. The master plan is to transform Vixen into the largest player in the Australasian adult market.

The couple met before Crow's transformation into pornographer. After two cases of spinal bends helped end his careers as a deep-sea diver, he was learning more toward up market property development with a sideline interest in a mail-order company, Grafton Marketing, whose offerings included adult DVDs.

Gibb toot it on, gave it a sexy name, kept the sexy stuff and built it up before dropping it out, allowing Crow to push his shiny bonce into the spotlight.

"When I decided to font the business, come out if you like," crows Crow, "I knew it was going to be known; this is the porn industry, so ****ing what? Next question. By having no skeletons in the cupboard - I've let them all out - it gave me incredible freedom to say what I like and go up against everybody ... There's nothing you can do to change what people think about pornography, most people have a fixed view. But you do what you do and my attitude is that I'm not ashamed of it."

These could be the worlds of Crow's role model; self declared US "smut peddler" Larry Flynt of Hustler fame. He has nothing but admiration for the American's success as a businessman and stretcher of First Amendment boundaries.

"If there's anyone I aspire to - I'm not into hero worship, so nothing like that - but if there's anyone I would like to emulate, he's someone I see as worthy of admiration. Flynt's been through a hell of a lot for his beliefs and he's come out on top."

Crow has co-directed Vixen Direct with the company's in-house accountant Shirish Vagel since Gibb's departure, but she has left a gaudy legacy of sorts in their building's purple, silver and white color-scheme.

But even that lingering presence may soon be gone. The first item of business this morning is a meeting to discuss a relit plan which will see two floors added to the building, aluminum cladding, outdoor shade sail, and a spa pool - everyone knows you can't make a proper porn without a spa pool.

The big question is whether Crow goes ahead with the upgrade alone or sells the property to someone else who can do it for him.

After an inconclusive swapping of views, ideas and seven-figured numbers, they finish with an incongruous chat about some guy's relationship woes. The agent offers to provide a few good self-help books before heading downstairs to the warehouse for a little adult shopping. There are many forms of self-help.

Up to now Crow has been the proverbial open book, even conducting conversations on speakerphone. "How can I run a magazine called Uncensored and then try and censor things," he had explained. "I leave it to the media to report what they see and hear, as long as it's factual you won't get a backlash from me."

But there's some trouble brewing. Miss Popularity contestant and NZX cover girl Vicky-Lee has arrived for a battle of wills, and he'd prefer I wasn't around.

"I have to have a short meeting with her who won't be very pleasant," he apologizes. "So I'll have to ask for a little privacy. But you're welcome to walk around if you want."

I pass Vicky-Lee on the way out. She's a wee slip of a girl, but struts into Crow's office in full battledress: blonde hair aflame, makeup caked, top low-cut, breasts enormous. She's brewing a storm in a double-D cup.

However, when Vicky-Lee leaves and all seems fine, although Crow seems just the tiniest bit frazzled. From what could be gathered from a few loaded comments, they had each stepped back froma Mexican stand-ff involving mutual legal action. So, crisis avoided, it's into the porn.

A NEW

shipment of DVD's has arrived with some previously released movies, but their contents need to be checked before the paperwork can be sent to the censor's office. If they contain any new footage Vixen has to pay for them to be reclassified.

So all we get is a frozen shot of someone preparing to simper, "Ooo, it's so hot in here, let's get naked" as Crow takes the time details from the DVD display. Coitus adoidus.

The only time he registers nude bodies is while reviewing the photos to be spread-eagled through the next copy of NZX. His single comment? "Oo, that's graphic."

All that effort not to look builds up a hearty appetite; we'd already touched on religion and sex, so that left politics for lunchtime banter.

It's no secret Crow became a member of Libertarians in 2002 or that in February this year he tried to join Act.

"Well, I tried to join," he says over a low-cal meal of Waldorf and tuna salads. "I went to the lunches and breakfasts, but they didn't want me. No idea why, they never even banked my $150 donation. The cheque has never been presented, I guess they considered me too controversial."

He probably still voted for them: "It's more a matter of who I won't vote for."

And although he says he's too busy right now, he's toying with a possible crack at public office at some stage. After all, US porn queen and erotica guest Mary Carey raced Arnie for the California governorship and he loves slagging off big government, especially when remembering the 2 1/2 year audit he endured.

"Seventy-thousand it cost me and they found nothing because there's nothing to find. It was conducted by the Special Audit branch in Wellington, according to my accountants it's the department for dealing with gangs and organised crime."

The audit finally ended when he called time. "Then they send a letter of apology, turned around and said the audit was over... and all they found was that I hadn't deducted withholding tax from a couple of models."

Yeah, it was a pain, but he still relishes the notoriety. There is one particular Christian activist who has burned with righteous anger and outrageous accusations outside every Erotica. This year, rather than ignoring him again, Crow marched out with a phalanx of porn stars and flashed a mighty broadside of breasts.

"He went right off and started calling me a pedophile and that and that sort of thing. I went over to talk to him and we called the police, but even when they arrived he was still yelling and calling me a pedophile, so I told the police you can arrest him for that or me for assault because I'm gong to thump him. So they took him away."

No surprise then taht porn kings have little time for what Crow calls "rentafundemtalists".

But he does have time for gossip columnists. Bridget Saunders want a copy of Nicky Watson's topless Erotica pic, Crow wants to know the names of the businessman involved in an armed offenders call out that morning. The deal is secured with Friday-night dinner date involving Crow, Saunders and Ravlich. "I've got a good relationship with the gossip girls and at the end of the day that's fairly important because they could hang, draw and quarter me."

It's a momentary diversion before meeting a pair of demure architects who have been preparing plans for the building upgrade.

Their cost estimates greatly exceed Crow's and he's clearly unimpressed: "I've been involved in 29 different commercial developments, so I beg to differ." They want some money and he's clearly unwilling: "I'm not interested in your problems. I'll say it again, until I get ownership of the building I am not paying one cent toward anything." Throughout the encounter they remain ramrod straight, refusing to relax in case they accidentally glance at the nudity around them before shutting off, eye's downcast.

"A lot don't look," says Crow after they've gone. "They feel really uncomfortable." Now that's a cunning negotiating strategy.

THEN

It's time to unravel what went down in Pornotopia, the upstairs room at Erotica where imported porn stars posed with punters for nude photos and peddled their explicit movies.

For it's part, Vixen earned somewhere around $20,000 there in three days, but there's a diminutive Tera Patrick - sized spanner in the works. More to the point, the problem is the US porn star's testy manager / husband Evan Seinfeld, also front man for New York’s metallers Biohazard.

He's been calling every day since the show closed demanding money, but no one knows how much they are owed because he had been taking cash for sales without leaving any records. Tera is due to arrive back in Auckland the following weekend so they want to get it sorted quickly before the issue descends into metal mayhem.

crow, Trent and Shirish paw though ream after ream of till receipts. "If only our fans could see us now," mutters Crow. "My brain is fading."

By 6pm and after draining several calculators, it turns out the Yanks owe Vixen. The question becomes who is going to tell Seinfeld. Time to go, say's Trent.

A timely distraction arrives, Crow's girlfriend, policewoman Gaylene Rogers. His porn career means hasn’t been the easiest of on-off relationships. A police inquiry rummaged through their sock drawers in 2003. Crow mentions he's still considered persona non grata at Auckland Central.

Right now Rogers' only concern is the plate of half-eaten cakes on the table. Her man's on a diet and has managed to lose 12kg in three months.

It's now knocking on 7pm as Crow prepares to deal with the 14 new-release DVD's yet to be classified. This means breaking down each movie, play by sweaty play. Every single poke and prod has to be listed and timed on the second, and that's something he's not mad keen on doing right now. It's been a long day after a long night.

Horrah. Ray, a former employee, now a part-time contractor, shows up to show Crow a marketable DVD he'd created from one of Vixen Directs’ Down Under Exposed series that screened on Sky Television. He'll gladly shoulder the classification burden at his market rate of $10 a movie. Everyone can go home.

Then just as Ray makes to leave with seven steaming discs, Crow pulls him up. He was trying to make off without the gay porn.

"Come on, you've got to take the bad with the good, buddy. You've got to take the bad with the good."

It might be porn, but it's still a job of work.

Posing naked has revealed more than an Auckland lass could have imagined.

Danielle Murray-Zahorodny, 18, was voted NZX Magazines Fox of the Year for her nude photo shoot in the publication.

She was also named miss Erotica 2006.

The confident, unashamed Westie said she would not do explicit photos again but has no regrets as it had opened doors into her dream job - television presenting.

"I thought about it a million times and then thought "I'm 18, and will do what I want."

Danielle posed in the magazine under the fake name Reece and was voted Miss Fox by readers.

"I won't be doing the explicit shots for NZX again. I think it was an experimental phase. I did not like the impact on my family."

But as Miss Erotica, Danielle will be replacing this years babe Michaiah as the face and body of Erotica 2006.

"The pictures will be more erotic and sensual, leaving a bit to the mystery."

Danielle hails from Bethell's Beach and "I absolutely love being a Westie". Since the photo shoot she has become assistant event organizer for The Erotica Lifestyles Expo and has several chances to be a television presenter.

"Fortunately, I have met great people to get me into this line of business." She says just what the shows are, is hush-hush until she signs on the dotted line.

But one could involve her biggest passion - cars.

She says she loves working on cars and motorbikes, and enjoys most motor sport. To be given the chance to present at an event would be a dream come true.

"I love the beach, love cars, love rock music and love cars, cars, cars!

Danielle's ideal man is tall, dark and handsome, with blue or green eyes.

"Definitely someone car-oriented," she says.

PORN Star Tera Patrick's calandar is overflowing - with TV, moviesk, interviews, photoshoots, radio.

But the stunning brunette still found time to send a few pulses racing at New Zealands' Erotica Expo.

Born in Montana, Tera is as brillient as she is beautiful, having started a career as a nurse with dthe dream of becoming - of all things - an infectious disease specialist. She started modelling at 13 but quit at 18 to go to university.

Luckily she returned to modelling and became a penthouse pet and Hustler Honey.

She reckons porn was always a fantasy of hers and with her stunning 36DD-24-34 figure she's one of the top 10 stars in the industry.

The video trailer for her latest hot flick Island Fever 3, can be seen at www.terapatrick.com

Porn Star's Daily Grind

Blue duo rest up at Erotica

Visiting porn stars and off-screen lovers Evan Stone and Syren won't be bringing their work with them when they star in this week's Erotica Expo.

Stone - who has bedded more than 1700 woman - says he's looking forward to his seven-day Kiwi tour because it'll give him a break from fliming two adule videos.

"You work every day and it goes on for a week and it's hard - the flesh gets tender," he told Sunday News.

The 40 year old Texan has been working in the porn industry for the past decade. Now dating fellow American blue movie star Syren, he was previously married to porn actress Jessica Drake.

"The sex and everything was fine. It was just having enough time to spend with each other. It wasn't a jealously thing at all," Stone said.

"Everything was OK but people just go seperate ways when they are married and porno only accelerates that because the situation is much bigger."

Stone and Syren will be joined by the worlds most famous Male porn star - Ron Jeremy - and American adult acresses Mary Carey and Shayla La Veaus for the three-day Erotica expo, starting Friday at the Auckland Showgrounds.

The Adult lifestyles show will have 130 booths selling everything from sex aids to spa pools.

Events will include Miss Erotica 2005, a male strip review, an amateur striptease contest, jelly pool wrestling and lingerie fashion parade.

By John Landrigan

A Wannabe porn king isn't Johnny on the spot.

But he rekons that will make no difference in his drive to make his name as an adult-movie producer.

Johnny admits Levin isn't exactly babe city and the night life in the town isn't hot - hardly the best start for a career as a porn magnate.

"I haven't applied myself to score here. Too omany rougheies" he says.

But he's written a script and will produce, direct, write the music and distribute the movie.

"I want to go all the way in the business. I want to be a part of a big porn studio.

"I'd like to challenge Steve Crow for the throne. I want to do something that's out of the box, something that he's not doing."

Getting started has not been easy - there's a shortage of stars.

After a local news paper discovered he was advertising for starlets at Massey university he lost his only actor.

"Our main porn guy had a lot of experience around woman. he hummed and ha'd and thought f**k it and got out.

"Most friends thought it was pretty bad what we wanted to do, but who cares? They'll get over it.

"Sex is pretty normal. What's the difference when you're catching meaningless sex on film?"

He says he is not advertising at the university anymore for girls but will look at finding stars through the proper channels - the back pages of Truth.

Self-confessed porn fan Jahnny says he got the idea sitting around work and talking about making his own movie with his mates.

"I always liked the stuff. I've always been into it since getting my first one at 16."

He said the first film he saw was "fat woman porn" and not that great but it inspired him to make his own.

"Guys go out on a Friday night and get laid. What about the lonely guys at home who like porn?" he said.

All Black's babe is top ruck

By John Landringan

All Blacks halfback Byron Kelleher's girlfriend is a great Lei.

That's the word on gorgeous adult movie starlet Kaylani Lei from the world's most famous male porn star.

Ron Jeremy, 52 - nicknamed the Hedgehog for his hairy back and squat physique - has bedded almost 5000 woman and was in Auckland last week for this months Erotica Expo.

He directed her in blue movie Ron Jeremy on the Loose - Viva Ron Vegas.

"Kaylani Lei, she was phenomenal - she smoked it, she fogged the lens of the camera she was so good," said Jeremy.

"From what I remember she's hot as a pistol, a good performer who likes to please the men.

"Byron is a real lucky man." "Asians have a tendency to be loyal, even in the porn business." "If they get into an open relationship it's open, if they're in a closed relationship it's closed."

RELATIONSHIPS

Jeremy said he took rock stars, sports figures and actors to his sets and some had open relationships with the porn stars.

He said many were emotionally monogamous but not necessarily sexually so.

"A lot of times a girl and guy allow each other the freedom. "They will allow the other to have sex as long as it's for a pay cheque. "If there's not apay cheque they can't." He said relationships involving porn stars wre not that different because in general the majority of marriages do not succeed either.

He said a lot of guys lie and cheat even if they are married.

"It's a shame because they really could do well if people open up their attitudes a little bit."

Sexy Lei, 25, was born in Singapore to Filippino parents, completed in horse shows in Ireland then because an exotic dancer and performed in adult films in America.

Kelleher met her nine months ago at a tropical resort and told Sunday News their love would not be tested by what otehrs have to say about them.

Kelleher said Lei was given up starring in porn movies and if fulfilling modelling contracts before moving to New Zealand.

She had met his parents Kurt and Carol and decided to turn her back on the porn business now that she and their son are together.

Byron's having a ball

Kaylani Lei, right, isn't just bonkable - she's bankable as well.

The lovely Lei was born in Singapore to Filipino parents and turned to adult entertainment in 1999, staring in Ripe 6.

She has gone on to lucritive lead roles in over 80 more adult films including eye of the Beholder, Sweat Shop, Blue Rain, Space Nuts and Getting Lei'd in Hawaii.

In May her new R-rated show Sex Games Vegas - Miss Las Vegas was pixked up by Sex In The City's HBO Network.

Byron Helleher, above, was sidelined at the hight of his All Blacks career. Chief rival Justin Marshall had just transferred to Leeds when Kelleher was rocked by a late tackle during the All Blacks first Tri-Nations test againts South Africa.

He's been out since with concussion but Truth reckons he won't be too upset with Kaylani at his side.

He told reporters: "We're in love - that's all there is to it. Thi sis two people doing whatever they do in life and meeting together and chemistry happens. "That's what's happened and we're in love and happy."

Simulated sex and porn shoots turn up the heat at Erotica Expo

Erotica Expo went off with a bang.

American porn star Shayla La Veaux was the first act on stage at the three-day event at the weekend and the blonde bombshell set the standard for the show by simulating sex with a lucky punter from the audience.

"She was filthy - and I mean that in a good way," said Australian visitor Adriane. "I've been to our version and they don't simulate sex for all to see. I mean that was a live f***ing show."

And the porn stars said American audiences don't see what we do either because their expos are pretty sedate by comparison.

Thousands of lucky punters were also given the opportunity to make their wildest dreams a reality by staring in their very own porno.

Fifth dollars gave them the chance to pose with nakid international porn stars Tera Patrick, Mary Carey, Syren, Evan Stone, Shayla La Veaux, Australian erotic model Yasmin Taylor and porn legend Ron "The Hedgehog" Jeremy.

Aucklander Paulie, 22 had trouble deciding which girl to pose with, eventually opting for three seperate photoshoots.

He reckoned it was worth every cent. "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The girls are gorgeous so itw as totally worth it."

LICKING

Anna, 18 from Warkworth, planned the trip with her boyfriend but when he couldn't make it she decided to get him a present he'd never forget.

"I got a photo done with Mary Carey. She is sitting on my lap and I am licking her nipple. My boyfriend will love it."

Aucklander Michael, 27, was at the expo for his stag do and could not believe his luck when his mates all chipped in to get Tera Patrick to sit on his lap and strike a very revealing pose.

"It's the perfect stag night gift and I am definately showing it to my fiance."

Even the armed forces were impressed.

Air force military police officer Paul, 26, from Hamilton, was almost speechless when he emerged from a photo booth.

"How do you put an experience like that into words? It was a total buzz."

And the porn stars confessed their love for everything Kiwi - especially the men.

Shayla loves New Zealand so much she plans to retire here and would love a Kiwi bloke by her side.

"I love Kiwi men, their physique is to sexy. There is a huge variety of men here and variety is the spice of life.

"It is my fifth trip here and the local men are so rough and rugged. I like my boys bad and Kiwi men fit that description."

Meanwhile a few people grumbled about the $20 price tag to get in to the expo but then to have international porn star Tera Patrick on your lap, nakid - well, that's priceless!

The breast assets in the porn business were out and about in Auckland last week for the Boobs On Bikes parade.

But not everyone was happy with porn king Steve Crow's annual ride.

Don't rain on out boobs, was the call from fans after a woman shopper damned the parade.

Promoting the weekend's Erotica Expo, Crow and porn legend Ron "The Hedgehog" Jeremy led a parade down Auckland's Queen St and through the leafy suburb of Remuera in an open convertable. In tow were 15 topless babes on the back of Harley Motorbikes and two Scorpian Sabre tanks carrying another topless babe and American porn star Evan Stone.

But a lone woman shopper was not impressed and told the cavalcade so.

"Your're all going to hell. What do you think you're doing."

NUDITY

She would not elaborate further, saying Truth would be beating at the firey gates as well.

But punters close by told her she was a prude and there was nothing wrong with public nudity. "Don't rain on our parade," said one suited man.

Tim - an inner city office worker - missed the show and was waiting in case they came back.

"The phone and email's been going crazy. Guys across town have been telling us to come for a gawk."

Three Brazilian backpackers said they had seen nothing like it at home and were suitable impressed when they saw Ron Jeremy, who was reportedly slept with over 5000 woman.

"This is crazy, lucky guy," said one. He must be a legend, yes?"

Dave was one of hundreds who lined Queen Street after reading about the parade in Truth. He said it was easy to convince 20 of his workmates to come and take in the free show.

"I haven't missed one parade or Erotica."

One woman at a parliamentary enrolment stand said she "f***kin loved it" but thought a couple of the guys should have got their thingies out. And John said public nudity should be encouraged.

"A stand out performance, both barrels. We came, we saw, we came.

While New Zealand's most infamous pornographer Steve Crow talks profit margins and media exposure, his Downunder Exposed co-stars are busy doing what they do best, getting naked.

Male porn star and star of Downunder Exposed Evan Stone, took some time out between takes on his latest adult film to talk porn, adult expos and Steve Crow.

Initially, getting hold of the professional sex machine proves difficult. Lucky our liaison puts my mind at ease. According to her if he's not having sex at the time he'll definitely answer the phone. So, when we finally make that long distance connection I start with some good ol' kiwi politeness: "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

Evan Stone is a busy man. He's been a porn star for five years, shooting on average 200 films a year. That means he just recently cracked the 1000 film mark - not bad for a guy who got into porn as a favour to a friend. Stone thinks it was good karma ("Maybe I was a pope in my last life") and is quick to pass on some wisdom: "If you want to get into porn, you have to know someone in the industry."

In New Zealand the man to know is adult industry entrepreneur Steve Crow. "I love Steve," says Stone who, in case we needed reminding, points out "He's a pioneer in New Zealand."

He certainly is. Through his ventures Steve Crow has become the number one spokesperson for the local porn industry and a controversial figure - a documentary was well overdue.

In Downunder Exposed Crow pulls no punches. He doesn't care what people think of him and amazingly claims to not even like porn. "I don't watch it (porn). Quite frankly I can't understand why people buy it." But they do and that's exactly why Crow's in the business, the jewel of which is his ever popular sex expo, Erotica.

"We have a similar show (expo) in Las Vegas," says Evan Stone. "But it's not as exciting because that stuff is so normal there. In New Zealand there's something very exciting and forbidden about a sex show...I love coming down there."

As it happens Stone is due here this week with Erotica kicking off in Auckland on August 26, for three days. Meanwhile, look out for 'Boobs on Bikes' (as featured on Downunder Exposed) on Wednesday, August 24 at 12.30pm on Queen Street.

Before Stone gets back to work, I shower him with... questions. How much does he get paid? "$1000 a day." What does he do after work? "I live next to a National Reserve so I run my dogs... I like to stay attached to the earth and get out of that fantasy world I live." Does he have a girlfriend? "Yes, her name's Syren... she's a porn star too." Does he use Viagra? "No, it gives me a feeling I'm not comfortable with and doesn't always work." Is he related to Sharon Stone? "Only in my head."

For those who haven't yet had the pleasure, the four-part Downunder Exposed still has two parts to play. Look out for: Porn stars playing rugby; American star Dolorian getting her kit off, again; a sneak peek behind the scenes of two pornos shot in New Zealand; advice for budding female porn stars and; highlights from Erotica 2004.

Official Artical can be found here: Link

No matter how you like it, the annual Erotica Expo embraces your dark side, with a weekend of frivolity. From g-strings to stage shows the expo invites couples, friends, the curious and interested to browse the stalls smothering the Auckland Showgrounds. An Expo unlike any other, Erotica is inclusive, welcoming everyone over 18 to explore the intimate world of adult products, displays, entertainers, shows, free giveaways and meet an array of international porn icons. there is something at the expo for EVERYONE: Alcohol, bagels, home entertainment, DVDs, sexual health and vitality products, paintings, diet suppliments, furniture, saunsa, non-piercing jewellery, spas, candles, oils, crystals, shaving products, confectionary, instant tanning, hemp products, car alarms, henna, body painting, mobile phones and much more. If you have ever shied away from peeking in an adult store, cast your fears aside. This is an expo which destroys your inhibitions and helps your experience a range of products as well as teaching you new ways to enjoy yourself, keep healthy and practice safe sex. A number of charitable organisations will also be present, rounding off a diverse line-up of stars, shows and stalls.

Tanks will be rolling through the suberbs next week!

But insteadof gun-toting soldiers they'll be carrying bare-boobed babes. Porn King Steve Crow is expanding his Boobs on Bikes parade to take in ritzy Remuera.

"They're deprived", he said.

Batten down the hatches, pull the blinds, turn out the lights.

And whatever you do - don't look. Porn King Steve Crow is about to invade the plush streets of posh Auckland suburb Remuera.

At the spearhead of his topless army of invasion will be two Scorpion Sabre tanks. Sultan of shock Crow has hired the two privately owned 1973-model light tanks to lead his Boobs on Bikes parade through the Queen City. The August 24 parade kicks off his Erotica Expo, the sex exhibition that titilates Aucklanders every spring.

"We might have to call it "Tits on Tanks" this year", Steve Crow said. "Each tank has two hatches apart from the driver so there'll be two girls per tank," he said. "And we've got about 15 Harley's - each with a topless girl on the back of it."

If it rains, the parade will be held on Thursday.

BROAD APPEAL

The parade starts at 12:30pm on th eWednesday heads down Queen Street, along Beach Road, up Parnell Rd, then turns into Newmarket where broads can once again be seen on Broadway.

Then it's going to take a new turn - up Remuera Rd. "They're drprived so I'm going to take it through Remuera this year," Crow said. "I don't want them to miss out." We'll be obeying all the road rules, following traffic and being good citizens. "I can't see any Remuera grannies in their baby BMWs arguing with our tanks," he said. Crow said there had been no problems with the mayor, Dick Hubbard or his council. Part parades ran into opposition from then mayor John Banks.

But there has been one hitch with Erotica. "Our truck with billboards on it got towed from a legal park on Mountain Rd," Crow said. "The towtruck driver argued with the cops. They said it had signage on it that was visible from the motorway." The cop said tow it anyway. The truck has a huge ad on the side of it showing model Michaiah - the face of Erotica. "Guess what, the shit is going to hit the fan," Crow said. "It's going back there." This year's erotica features worl-famous porn star Ron Jeremy. "Jeremy is huge - in every respect," Crow said. "That's going to ad the X, X-rated, or whatever factor to the show."

Erotica bigger, naughtier

This year's Erotica Expo doesn't begin and then with bedroom ace Ron Jeremy. Also on display will be porn stars Tera Patrick, Shayla La Veux, Mary Carey, Evan Stone, Syren and Jasmine Taylor - a girl who organiser Steve Crow says is "drop-dead gorgeous". "The show is 30 percent bigger than last year" he said. "There are 130 booths." He said it was going to be naughtier than ever because he would take off controls of the porn stars' behaviour.

Truth hotty Michaiah's image is big in Auckland.

She's the face of Erotica Expo 2005 - taking over from Penthouse Pet Hayley-Marie Byrnes. Beach babe Michaiah fronts the show on controversial organiser Steve Crow's billboards, which have already caused a furore with the council. Crow is involved in a tug-of-war with the Auckland City Council over a billboard mounted on a truck the council has had towed, apparently the dictracting motorway traffic. crow says he'll keep parking it in a legal space on Mountain Rd, Mt Eden.

Michaiah's on seven other billboards around Auckland, heaps of promotional marterial and is the dominant image of the Erotica site, www.erotica.co.nz. The 20-year old stunner will be chaperoned by Vicky-Lee, star of reality TV series Miss Popularity. "It's such a big thing to be involved in and a great opportunity," Michaiah told Truth.

"I feel surprised and flattered. I'm honoured to follow in the footsteps of Haylie Marie. She's the bomb.

I totally agree with what Steve's promoting - getting couples to be open with each other.

Plus I met the porn stars at Erotica 2004. That was cool. They were great and really friendly. "Erotica's really good fun."

She's an unashamed Westie. "I love west Auckland. I love the beaches. It's not like the stereotype that people think. i love taking my car to the beach but sometimes it gets stuck."

She picked up a few rubber-burning tips when she was doing promotional work at the rotary nationals at Meremere last year and says she had a great time hanging out around the fast cars and their hot drivers!

PORN Star antics are about to be exposed in a TV documentary.

Kiwi porn king Steve Crow hosts some of American's leading porn artists during Auckland's annual Erotica Expo.

Last year's show featured Jacklyn Lick, Kylie Ireland, Dolorian, Evan Stone and New Zealand's own Penthouse Pet, Hayley-Marie.

Down under Exposed - a four-part documentary on Sky 1 from August 10 - offers a fly-on-the-wall look at the event.

Dolorian, who has performed in over 100 adult movies, removes her clotihgn at the drop of a hat. But her only problem when promoting th event nationwide was finding a Kiwi bonk.

"You're all too shy," she says.

Evan Stone gets into trouble at Auckland airport as baggage staff discover what's in a porn star's bag.

And there is tension and fun before Boobs on Bikes tour down Auckland's Queen St - but nothing a spot of naked rugby at a local part couldn't fix.

Viewers get to see the star perform at last years Erotica before Crow prepares for his X-rated movie shoot.

Hit and Ron at Erotica

The world's most famous male porn star, Ron Jeremy, is coming to New Zealand next month for the Erotica 2005 Expo.

Jeremy - who will film porn scenes with two Kiwi woman during his tour - has had sex with nearly 5000 woman.

But the chubby adult actor, nicknamed The Hedgehog, said he's always wanting more - even after a hard day at work.

"I never get bored of it. Men don't seem to get jaded like woman do," he said.

"The girls in the industry don't need the recreational sex any more because they are getting it on the job.

"But with guys, we're dogs. We can be in the adult industry but still enjoy a bit of a nookie on the side."

Jeremy, 52, has starred in more than 2000 X-rated films since 1978. But these days he's doing more mainstream acting roles than adult movies.

His newest flick is Being Ron Jeremy - a parody of Being John Malkovich - in which a virgin travels into Ron's head through a peepshow portal. He's also in Keira Knightley's new film Domino.

But he will always be best known for staring in such adult classics as Jurrassic Pork, Forest Hump and Star Whores.

Jeremy - famous as one of the 'larger' porn stars - and it was his adult movie fame that had allowed him to bed more than 2000 woman off screen.

"I'm not God's gift to woman - but as I got more famous and more chunky, it because a little easier," Jeremy said.

"Girls get a kick out of a bit of fame sometimes."

"Also once in a while a girl gets drunk and thinks I'm Fabio and then wakes up and realises I'm actually Flabio!

"Often girls just want to see it, so I make them a deal: I'll flash if you flash first. You show me the top, I'll show you the bottom.

"I traded with Paris Hilton before which was good fun."

Jeremy will be a VIP guest at Erotica, at Auckland Showground's from August 26-28.

He will MC shows and be available to audience members for picture and autographs.

Sexperts Advice...

Porn star Ron Jeremy has bedded nearly 5000 woman - on and off the screen. He offers some sex advice for wannabe Casanovas:

Pulling

- Never use chat-up lines - they're boring. All you need is to be yourself. - Find something sweet to say to a girl, like "You have a nice smile". - The best place to pull a girl is at a dance. It's still the best ice-breaker. - You can then start talking, be a nice guy and be funny.

Dating

- Ladies still like the old-fashioned flowers and chocolates.

In Bed

- Please your girl before yourself. - Maybe start with a little back or neck massage. - Let her take the lead. In the old days, girls would appreciate the guy making the first move but now they're more aggressive. And they like you being more laid back.

MY LIPS ARE SEALED!

I’M NOT ONE TO

GOSSIP BUT...

ROASTING: Michael Barrymore, bottom left, roasts Gray Bartlett with the help of Brendan Dugan, top left, and Guy Cater, top right. SINGING PENGUIN:

Nicole Kidman.

COMING TO NEW ZEALAND:

Porn star Ron Jeremy.

The world’s most famous male porn star, RON JEREMY, 52, will be in Auckland next month for Erotica 2005, which runs from August 26-28. Ron – nicknamed The Hedgehog for his looks – has bedded almost 5000 women.

“I never get bored of sex. Men don’t seem to get jaded like women do,” he said.

“The girls in the industry don’t need the recreational sex any more because they are getting it on the job.

“But with guys, we’re dogs. We can be in the adult industry but still enjoy a bit of nookie on the side. It’s like a busman’s holiday.”

Ron proved a huge hit with TV viewers in the UK during a recent stint on the UK reality show The Farm, the same show in which REBECCA LOOS got in trouble for pleasuring a pig. But despite baring all in more than 2000 Xrated adult movies, Ron said he refused to strip for a shower on the show in case his famous equipment looked small on camera.

TRIANGLE, Auckland’s regional TV station, is fast becoming the mouse that roared at all the major New Zealand TV networks.

JIM BLACKMAN, the founder and CEO of Triangle, was quick to sign up the Variety Artists Club of NZ’s Celebrity Roast recently, where celebrities poked fun at veteran entertainer GRAY BARTLETT, MBE.

The hour-long Celebrity Roast airs on Triangle this Tuesday at 8.30pm and appearing in the panel are the irrepressible MICHAEL BARRYMORE, DIANNE HAWORTH, WINSTON PETERS, JODIE VAUGHAN, BRENDON DUGAN, LARRY MORRIS, GUY CATER and COLIN PARIS.

I thought it was just a fabulous occasion and wonderful that it was an absolute sellout. The icing on the cake was the money went to one of my favourite organisations – the SPCA.

You’ll enjoy the Celebrity Roast, believe me. You’re in for a treat with bouquets and brickbats flying in all directions wrapped up with some very funny moments and Michael Barrymore even engages in some lively repartee with NZ First leader Winston Peters and also pays tribute to Gray’s considerable kindness to him.

RUMOUR has it that TV3’s golden boy JOHN CAMPBELL has bought a house in Auckland’s trendy Grey Lynn, only a few blocks away from his co-presenter CAROL HIRSCHFELD.

AUSSIE actress and Hollywood golden girl NICOLE KIDMAN – fresh from finishing her role as a modern witch in the movie version of the TV classic Bewitched – has now become the voice of a penguin!

The upcoming animated movie Happy Feet, directed by GEORGE MILLER of Babe fame, tells the sad tale of a penguin called Mumble who can’t sing – sad because penguins attract their mating partners through song.

Lord Of The Rings star ELIJAH WOOD voices the lead part of Mumble, while Nicole provides the voice of a penguin who can sing.

She’ll do all her own singing but she’s had plenty of practice at that both through her performances in Moulin Rouge and her duet Something Stupid with superstar ROBBIE WILLIAMS. And Nicole told a reporter that her character is: “A very tall penguin”.

FANS of the hit reality show Fear Factor are set to see a very different format in the next series. Instead of shooting the show on location, they’re planing 22 home invasions – instead of the contestants going to Los Angeles to jump off buildings and eat bugs, all the stunts will be taken to their homes.

CORONATION Street star LIZ DAWN has signed on for another two years, quashing soap fans’ fears she was going to retire.

The show’s producers have tempted Liz, 65 – who plays Vera Duckworth – with a reported $390,000-a-year contract. The deal comes after rumours that Liz and her on-screen husband Jack – played by BILL TARMEY – would be written out with both suffering bad health in real life. Liz said: “I’ve read stories about my health, with people hinting I may be leaving but that is rubbish.

“I’ve only just signed a new two-year deal. “I’m very happy on the show and have no intention of quitting.” One of the street’s longest running characters, Vera made her first appearance 31 years ago and her turbulent relationship with Jack has provided some of Coro’s most memorable moments.

Tarmey, 64, is expected to sign a new contract soon with scriptwriters promising some big new storylines for the couple. A Coro spokeswoman said: “We are delighted Liz is staying with the show. “Liz and Bill are the king and queen of Coro.”

CATCH my TV show on Fridays at 9.30pm on Auckland’s Triangle TV. To share celebrity gossip contact me at: dhpromo@ihug.co.nz or check out www.hartnells.ihug.co.nz

The old adage of two in the Bush being as good as something or other almost came true when a New Zealand-bound porn star met the US president. Mary Carey, 25 who squeezed her 36DDs between Arnold Schwarzenegger and pint-sized Gary Coleman in the 2003 electoral race for governor of California, met with Bush at a Republican fundraiser last week.

Carey, who infamously used her blond locks to clean a Toilet on American television, was excited about her brush with the President. Funnily enough, Carey, who said she is turned off by smelly, mean and dishonest people, found Bush sexy.

"President Bush is good looking. He's hot. I had a lot of fun," she said on her web site. Carey, the start of hundreds of adult movies, had no trouble making friends. "By the end of the night they were all drunk and wanted pictures with me.

I got an offer for a threesome." When running for governor Carey suggested a tax on breast implants could raise millions from Beverly Hills alone. Carey's naturally grown assets impressed enough Californians to win her 10,000 votes.

Next year she plans to run for lieutenant governor of California, after entertaining punters at New Zealand's Erotica Lifestyles Expo this August.

I'm not one to gossip but...

Kiwi beauty VICKYLEE McINTYRE, 26, proved a hit with the kids in a small South Australian town during the filming of reality TV show Miss Vicky was one 10 New

Zealand beauties vying for the overall title and a $100,000 prize, in the show hosted by Outback TV star VADIM DALE. But being in the public eye is nothing new for the former Auckland beauty queen. She’s modelled extensively, has been a New Zealand Fosters Grid Girl and was Miss Indy New Zealand in 2002. Her TV experiences include appearances on Channel E for Miss Hawaiian Tropic, a 2003 documentary on men’sv virginity and a six-month stint as a cafe assistant in our hit soap Shortland Street. This year Vicky will be hosting Erotica 2005 in Auckland – which runs from August 26 to 28. She’ll be on stage fronting most of the live shows plus appearing for pictures and autographs..... AUSTRALIAN stripperturned-businessman BILLY CROSS has made his US TV debut with millions of Americans set to tune in to his reality series Strip Search. More than 5000 stripping hopefuls auditioned for the series. “From that, we bring 15 guys back to Los Angeles, put them in a house and they live there, eat there and sleep there,” Cross said.

“There is a gym and a dance studio so they are pretty much confined to that one environment. We give them tasks and then evaluate them to pick the final seven to be in the show.” Contestants will be filmed during rehearsals, costume fittings, workouts, dieting and bodybuilding in preparation for the show and a pin-up calendar shoot. The seven finalists will form the American Storm dance group that will perform at the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas for the first time in public on July 29. Billy was one of the founding members of Australian strip group Manpower, which later went on to be called Thunder From Down Under..... HERE’S another Coronation Street update for diehard fans of the top soap (don’t read on if you don’t like spoilers). Brave young Chesney SAM ASTON – doesn’t seem to mind having mean Cilla for a mum and loathsome Les as a standin dad – just so long as he has best friend Schmeichel

by his side. But in the UK this week, Chesney’s world is shattered when the giant dog is knocked to the ground by a bus. Chesney rushes to Schmeichels side but the lovable creature is badly hurt. It’s touch and go whether he’ll live or die and Chesney is mortified, as is the vet fighting to save him. The accident happens after bus driver Claire swerves to avoid Josh, who has run out into the road, and hits Schmeichel. “Poor Claire is distraught,” says JULIA HAWORTH, who plays her. “She is traumatised by

the incident and vows that she will forget her dream job and never drive a bus again. “She goes round to the bus depot and hands in her notice. It’s very sad. Her dream of a new life as a driver is over for good.” .... FROM the only in America files, it seems a guy paid m o r e t h a n $ 4 0 0 0 for a lock of astronaut NEIL ARMSTRONG’s hair. A barber sold it to a guy who – ready? – collects celebrity hair. What’s wrong with stamp collecting? .... IF you think yourself a bit of a princess and you’re heading to Aussie then I’ve got the TV show for you. Australia’s Ten network is looking for 12 women to take part in a new reality show, Australian Princess. PRINCESS DIANA’s former butler PAUL BURRELL will front the series. The women will have to complete challenges to stay in the game and the winner will enjoy a night out at a gala event with their very own Prince Charming! Kiwi women who want a chance at being a New Zealand princess may be in luck, rumour has it that they may do a Kiwi version later this year if the Aussie one is a success.

18-April-2005 / Erotica Expo says “Ron Jeremy, Come On Down……….”

Erotica - Lifestyles Expo Director Steve Crow pays a visit to the US to meet in person USA Porn Star living legend Mr. ‘R.J.’ Ron Jeremy himself and asks him to “Come on down to Auckland New Zealand, for the Erotica expo in August this year”.

Ron Jeremy, the World’s Most Recognized Porn Star famous for his sizable appendage has had an outstanding film career spanning several decades. He has graced Adult movie sets in the US since the 70’s and now has branched into ‘mainstream’ movies, including a recent documentary on his life..

*"Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy" is the new, critically acclaimed feature film that explores the life of the world’s most unlikely sex star, Ron Jeremy.

The expo organisers are delighted Mr. Jeremy accepted the invitation and is able to commit the time in his busy schedule to visit New Zealand for the expo and anticipate public interest in talking directly with him on expo days to be huge. Ron’s enormous appeal is his personality and ‘common man’ image.

The Erotica Expo event has been operating since the year 2000, and middle New Zealand is now very accepting of the expo and the high calibre of entertainment and celebrities they host each year.

Amongst the many and varied Exhibitors with products and services available to Visitors, Ron Jeremy is part of the celebrity entertainment and one of several

Porn Stars that are guests at the expo. Visitors will be able to get ‘up close and personal’ with Ron for chats, question time and free autographed posters each expo day as well as book for a private, once in a lifetime photo session with Ron.

The Erotica – Lifestyles Expo continues to bring the best in entertainment and product to the Adult New Zealand public at it’s Strictly R18 event held annually in Auckland and now at provincial cities around the country.

The Auckland 2005 event is on at the Auckland Showgrounds, Hall 4 and 5 in August 26 – 28th.

Expo Hours: Fri/Sat: 11.00am – 11.00pm, Sun: 11.00am – 7.00pm.

*Source: website www.ronjeremy.com

Sexy Ray will be the prize.

RAUNCHY porn star Ray Veness is coming to town.

The American beauty will be one of the special attractions at next month's Palmerston North Erotica - Lifestyles Expo.

And one lucky punter will get the opportunity to spend an entire morning with the sexy vixen in a competition called the Milk Maid Moment

The winner will also pick up other prizes - inducing a double pass to the exclusive Erotica after party.

A former nurse's assistant, Ray Veness got her start in the porn business several years ago.

She and her then husband, inspired by a Sally Jessie Raphael segment on amateur porn, made a video of them-selves having sex and sold it.

At the time they were having trouble finding work, so when the company asked for another, they obliged.

Ray admits she's an exhibitionist - 'I used to dress like Madonna,' she says.

She has starred in more than 100 movies, and racked up thousands of miles on the stripping circuit, where she's a major draw with her own fan club and a signature line of sex toys.

But Ray hopes one day her country singing talents will also be recognised.

I figure as a singer I can keep my clothes on and get the same kind of attention I get as a stripper,' she says

MILITARY bases at Linton and Ohakea have helped lure an R-18 sex exhibition to Palmerston North next month.

Controversial promoter Steve Crowe, who was behind the failed attempt to film a porno-graphic video of a woman giving birth two years ago, says the military bases plus the closeness of the city to Wellington helped the decision to stage the first Erotic Expo event outside of Auckland here.

The expo stars three porn stars and will be based at the Convention Centre from March 11-13.

Promised events include a "boobs on bikes" ride around The Square, an American porn star called RayVeness offering to hand milk a Manawatu cow, and amateur strip tease competitions around city bars leading to a final at the expo.

Mr Crowe said he'd heard Palmerston North had a religious council and that "it would be great for a stir".

Expo organiser Sandy Watts said that while there was an element of mischief in choosing Palmerston North as the site for the first provincial expo, geography played a bigger role.

"We had always planned to take the expo to the provinces once the Auckland end was up and running," she said.

"And we love PalmerstonNorth. We love that it is central, which makes the logistics of the thing so much more practical. There are people who can come from Taranaki, Wairarapa and Wellington quite easily."

Other American porn stars coming for the expo are Syren and Evan Stone.

Ms Watts said the expo won't be cheap or sleazy.

"It's a couple-friendly event and we think it's a healthy, fun day out. We are all about safe, consensual sex and it's about people being able to express their own sexuality. And it's a little bit naughty but nice as well."

Ralph Sutherland from the New Life Church and the chair of the Christian Leaders' Association said the expo was sending the wrong message to people.

"When we talk about sex, it cannot be disconnected from relationships," he said. "When people turn to sexual gratification without love it becomes very self-serving and history shows that when that happens it can become destructive."

He said that while sex was "beautiful" in conjunction with a long-term, loving relationship, the type of sex aids on show at the expo had nothing to do with love.

"Love is about selflessness and these sex toys and porno-graphic movies are the ultimate of selfishness. It is lust and not love," he said.

"People wonder why there is so much sexual offending and rape and yet they allow this sort of thing as though there is no connection. No one will ever be able to convince me that there is no connection between pornography and sexual offending."

Mayor Heather Tanguay was more circumspect.

"The council has no control over whether such events come here," she said. "It's a sign of the times, I suppose, and it is inevitable that such shows would come here. I would presume that the event will be an R18 event and that young people won't have right of entry."

Deputy Mayor John Homblow agreed that the council had no place legislating on moral issues, but was uncomfortable about the idea of bare-breasted women riding bikes around The Square.

"A show like this will always be controversial, but it is not illegal and if people pay to see to see it, then that's their choice," he said.

"The issue for me is that when they go public that's when they infringe the rights of others."

Mr Hornblow, a practising Christian, said that while society today was more liberal, there was still plenty of concern about the adult entertainment industry and that it wasn't only Christians who might find such displays offensive, but also Muslims and Hindus.

NEW PLYMOUTH.- Pornographer Steve Crow plans to turn up the heat in Palmerston North by staging his sex expo Erotica there next month.

Mr Crow said that after holding successful Erotica events in Auckland, he wanted to take the expo south.

"The obvious choice was to do Wellington, but the venue was difficult to work with," he said.

Instead, Palmerston North clinched the R18 event on March 11 to 13 because of its proximity to the capital and nearness to New Zealand troops at Linton and Ohakea.

"And the fact that it's got a religious council and I thought it would be great for a stir," he said.

Erotica organiser Sandy Watts,Auckland, said three United States stars, RayVeness, Evan Stone and Syren, would be appearing at the event.

RayVeness would feature in a Milk Maid Moment promotion involving the adult-movie actress hand-milking a cow, Watts said.

A suitable cow and farmer were being sought within a 30km radius of Palmerston North. - PA

INGLEWOOD-BORN porn king Steve Crow is challenging Womad head on.

The same weekend the World of Music, Arts and Dance turns up the heat in New Plymouth, Crow will be doing Erotica in Palmerston North...

From March 11-13, Taranaki folk have the choice between didgeridoos and dancers at Brooklands or dildos and prancers at the Palmerston North Convention Centre.

Crow said that after holding successful Erotica events in Auckland, he planned to take the expo south.

"The obvious choice was to do Wellington, but the venue was difficult to work with."

Instead, Palmerston North clinched the R18 event because of its proximity to the capital, surrounding districts and nearness to New Zealand troops at Linton and Ohakea.

"And the fact that it's got a religious council and I thought it would be great for a stir," he said.

Erotica organiser Sandy Watts, of Auckland, said three American porn stars, RayVeness, Evan Stone and Syren, would be fronting up to Erotica.

RayVeness would feature in a Milk Maid Moment promotion. This involved the adult-movie actress hand-milking a cow, Watts said.

A suitable cow and farmer were being sought within a 30km radius of Palmerston North.

Womad publicist Mark Jackson did not feel threatened by the adult entertainment expo.

"It's not our kind of event, so we don't expect there will be competition between the people who go to Womad and an event like Erotica," he said.

"It doesn't worry us at all."

Pornographer Steve Crow plans to turn up the heat in Palmerston North by staging his sex expo Erotica there next month.

Mr Crow said that after holding successful Erotica events in Auckland, he wanted to take the expo south.

"The obvious choice was to do Wellington, but the venue was difficult to work with," he said.

Instead, Palmerston North clinched the R-18 event on March 11 to 13 because of its proximity to the capital and nearness to New Zealand troops at Linton and Ohakea.

ABOUT 200 people gathered outside the Convention Centre in Palmerston North yesterday to watch bare-chested men and women like Rayveness, pictured, ride around The Square on motorbikes.

Police said they received a handful of complaints.

The promotion marked the start of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo in the city this weekend.

IT'S not the worst career a good Quaker girl could have, says the star of 300 porn movies.

But RayVeness, who is in Palmerston North as a guest artist at this weekend's Erotica Expo, admits it's hardly ideal either.

In fact, her story sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer.

Born in 1972 in North Carolina — right in the heart of the Baptist Belt — she was married a year before she left school.

She and her husband heard about amateur porn movies on the Sally Jessy Raphael show and decided to send in one of their own.

She started out making movies only with her husband, but now works with various men.

"We made about 170 movies together once we moved out of North Carolina, but when we went back there, the first person we met was this girl we were giving a lift home to.

"She was drunk and giggling and she said she'd just seen us in a porno movie.

That's when it hit me what I was doing."

RayVeness is vocal about the porn industry, defending some areas of it and deriding others.

On the plus side, she says she loves sex.

But she is unhappy with industry trends to try to "outgross" other films, and fetish flicks that try to shock.

And the twice-divorced actress still goes to church, as any good Southern-born Quaker should.

"Every second Sunday and I pray to God every day.

My sins are between myself and my God and what I do is my business," she said.

"I've got a sticker on the bumper of my car that says, 'Christians aren't perfect, but they're forgiven by a God who is,."

Her movie career earns her a reasonable sum each year, but she is pinning her financial hopes on her newly launched website.

"It's only just gone up and I'm still making it. I'm doing it myself."

Intelligent, educated and possessed of a genuine Southern charm, she is also outspoken about what she would like to see happen in her industry. "I'd like to see educational funds set up for some of the young girls coming into the business these days.

They're just kids and they are doing real hardcore stuff.

I say to people, if your children are in the industry, you haven't been a very good arent.

We are writing to plead with our community to boycott the up and coming Erotica Expo during March.

Many of us do not like this event being staged here, but often we feel is though there is nothing we can do about it.

Who of us with daughters would let them participating in such a de-meaning event? Who of us with sons, boyfriends and husbands want them ogling and drooling over the degradation of women and ultimately, the human experience?

People of New Zealand, we can do something about this.

We can totally not become involved.

Women, let us stop men using our bodies in a humiliating, degrading, meaningless way and start showing them our intelligence.

We are worth much more than this treatment.

Our beauty comes from honouring ourselves and respecting ourselves as intelligent, physical, emotional and spiritual beings.

Mystique and grace elevate us from the mud in which some men would have us placed.

Why would we wallow in the mud with swine when we can raise ourselves above this behaviour?

Pornography offers nothing to society. It can add no quality or richness to our culture. There is no art in it, nor beauty.

It is like polluting our waters with toxins, and then making our children drink it.

Who are we as New Zealanders? What do we want history books to say about our race and culture in the future?

We would like to think that we will be remembered as being a people who adopt quality behaviours which reflect our total beings.

It is time for us to embrace the goodness of life; things that enrich and add positively to our culture and our experience.

We do not need to support things which do not enhance the quality of our lives and the lives of our children.

The organisers need to be much more creative and inventive in their quest for money. They have to learn to do better than this.

JANET MILLER and KYLE BURMEISTER Palmerston North.

"IS your child getting too much sex?" the latest New Zealand Listener asks on its cover page.

The article that follows gives results of research indicating how easily our children can and do access pornography.

"Proud to bare all" was the front-page "titillating headline" in Saturday's Manawatu Standard (March 12), followed by an extensive article describing the "careers" of two porn stars visiting Palmerston North for the Erotica Lifestyles Expo.

I read the article then put the paper into our recycling bin.

We encourage our four children to keep up to date with current affairs, we subscribe to your paper to keep informed about local news and affairs not the promotion of pornography as a profession to be proud of.

It was appalling enough having the erotica expo in our central "student" city convention centre, and now it seems our local "award-winning" newspaper is sinking to the depths of a tabloid.

JUDIE KEANE Ashhurst
Thursday, 17 March 2005, p.8

POLICE may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's square today at 5pm.

The event kicks off a three-day Erotica expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint — after the event.

Mr Handcock says offensiveness is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to it.

"This is a legal, not a moral determination.

We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for its evidential weight and seek a determination.

Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there is no comparison between the arrest of the women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike ride.

The Royal incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct.

The Boobs on Bikes is promotional, he said.

The Erotica Lifestyles Expo begins at 3pm today at the Convention Centre and runs through Sunday.

Two porn stars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Opposition to the expo is growing and police have also contacted church leaders over possible protest action.

One of those leaders, the Salvation Army's Craig Millington, is calling on Palmerston North people to boycott the expo. — NZPA

City to keep Erotica Expo

The Erotica Expo will return to Palmerston North next year.

Organiser Steve Crow said 7000 people attended the event last weekend.

He had anticipated 2000.

The three-day R18 sex expo featured United States porn stars, jelly wrestling, nude body painting, a male strip revue and 34 exhibitors, who sold a variety of products.

VICKY-Lee, star of reality TV show Miss Popularity, is going to be the hostess with the mostest.

The blonde bombshell will act as chaperone at the Erotica - Lifestyles Expo 2005.

The event will be held on March 11 to 13 in Palmerston North and March 26 to 28 in Auckland.

Joining Vicky-Lee at the Palmy expo will be Miss Erotica, Michaiah, US porn stars Siren and RayVeness and porn stud Evan Stone.

This is the first time the show has been taken to a province.

The adult lifestyles expos will have something for everyone, Erotica boss said.

"It is always exciting before an Erotica expo but now, with the addition of Palmerston North, it's even more exciting," he said.

"This is the first provincial city expo we have done and we are going all out to bring the best in entertainment locally and from the USA to really turn it on for the Manawatu people.

"It's all about adults having fun."

Event organiser Sandy Watts agrees. "Palmerston North is a great city but sadly not many shows put the city on their calendar," she said.

By TINA NASH

THE Erotica Expo will be back in Palmerston North next year.

Organiser Steve Crow said 7000 people attended. He had anticipated 2000, and had budgeted for that number while hoping for 5000.

"It seems like the people of Palmerston North want it," Mr Crow said. The three-day R18 sex expo in the Convention Centre featured American porn stars, jelly wrestling, nude body painting, a male strip revue and 34 exhibitors, who sold a variety of products.

It also featured religious protesters outside the venue, including a caravan set up by the Salvation Army.

Mr Crow said his company sold 1200 videos and 700 DVDs. That's half of what he sells in Auckland. where more than 20,000 people at-tended the last expo.

Mr Crow said it was great to see average "Mr and Mrs provincial New Zealand" turning up in Palmerston North.

Some church leaders opposed the expo, and there were protest threats. But the latter didn't come to much, Mr Crow said.

Police were called yesterday to ask one lone protester with a megaphone to he quiet.

The man also protests at the Auckland expo, Mr Crow said.

The Salvation Army van was parked across the road.

"They are really nice guys.

They came over and gave me a coffee.

We donate to the Salvation Army."

Mr Crow said the Boobs on Bikes ride around The Square on Friday attracted thousands of people.

Bare-chested porn stars and models were supposed to do two circuits of The Square.

They only did one circuit, however, after it took 24 minutes.

The women had tops on, but Mr Crow said that wasn't a back-down because of the controversy over the event.

The women had put their helmets on, and couldn't get their tops off without taking their helmets off.

They were running late, so Mr Crow told them to go and just lift them up.

Ralph Sutherland, of the New Life Church and Palmerston North Christian Leaders' Association chairman, said he was disappointed so many people went to the expo.

But he'd be surprised if so many turned up next year, because many people who went this time were probably just curious.

Picture. MURRAY WILSON

A LONE protester clutches the Bible outside the expo on Saturday.

TOPLESS models will take to the streets of Palmerston North on Friday despite entreaties from the city council to cover themselves up.

The models will take part in the Boobs on Bikes ride to promote the opening of the Erotica Expo in the city's Convention Centre that day.

Organiser Steve Crow is adamant there will be no cover-up.

"We've been asked by the council not to do it, but we're going to go ahead with it anyway," he said. "It is totally legal.

There are laws that prevent discrimination on the grounds of sex in this country and women can go topless wherever a man can ...

If someone wants to arrest me for that, then I'll take them to the High Court and I'll win."

Arrests are unlikely, city police commander Inspector Pat Handcock said. "As a general rule of thumb, breasts are not considered in law to be indecent or obscene.

"Obviously, we are anticipating some complaints and if they are made then we would submit whatever evidence we have to our legal team for advice.

But really, the role of police is to uphold the rule of law, not to determine moral standards in society."

Mr Crow had some advice for those who might be offended.

"Don't look.

If the sight of breasts offends you, then you don't have to look at them."

Preparations for the expo, the first outside Auckland, were going well. As well as 40 stalls, there will be guest appearances by American adult movie stars RayVeness, Syren and Evan Stone; jelly wrestling; male strippers and the usual cornucopia of oddly shaped playthings.

Deputy Mayor John Hornblow, a Christian, said though it was not the council's place to set moral standards, he had a problem with Boobs on Bikes because it waved the message in people's faces.

PALMERSTON NORTH — Police may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's square today at 5pm.

The event kicks off a three-day Erotica expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint — after the event.

Mr Handcock says offensiveness is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to it.

"This is a legal, not a moral determination. We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for its evidential weight and seek a determination. Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there is no comparison between the arrest of several women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike ride.

The royal incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct.

Boobs on Bikes is promotional, he said.

The Erotica Lifestyles Expo begins at 5.30pm today at the Convention Centre and runs through to Sunday. Two porn stars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Opposition to the expo is growing, and police have also contacted church leaders over possible protest action.

One of those leaders, the Salvation Army's Craig Millington, is calling on Palmerston North people to boycott the expo.

Major Millington said his church won't picket the show, but it will have a caravan outside the Convention Centre to try to dissuade people from going in.

He said he knows other churches plan to picket, but the Salvation Army instead will "appeal to people not to encourage the exploitation of men, women and children in the pornography industry".

Police may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's square this evening.

The event kicks off a three-day erotica expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint — after the event.

Mr Handcock says offensiveness is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to it.

"This is a legal, not a moral determination. We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for its evidential weight and seek a determination.

Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there is no comparison between the arrest of several women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike-ride.

The royal incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct.

The Boobs on Bikes is promotional, he said.

The Erotica Lifestyles Expo begins at 5.30pm at the Convention Centre and runs through Sunday.

Two porn stars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Police may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's square tomorrow at 5pm.

The event kicks off a three-day Erotica expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint, after the event.

Mr Handcock says offensiveness is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to it.

"This is a legal, not a moral determination.

We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for its evidential weight and seek a determination.

Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there was no comparison between the arrest of several women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike ride.

The royal incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct.

The Boobs on Bikes was promotional, he said.

The Erotica Lifestyles Expo begins at 5.30pm tomorrow at the Convention Centre and runs until Sunday.

Two porn stars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Opposition to the expo is growing, and police have also contacted church leaders over possible protest action.

One of those leaders, the Salvation Army's Craig Millington, is calling on Palmerston North people to boycott the expo.

Major Millington said his church would not picket the show, but it would have a caravan outside the Convention Centre to try to dissuade people from going in.

He said he knows other churches plan to picket, but the Salvation Army instead will "appeal to people not to encourage the exploitation of men, women and children in the pornography industry".

PALMERSTON NORTH - Police may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's Square today at 5pm.

The event kicks off a three-day Erotica Expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint - after the event.

Mr Handeock says offensiveness Is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to It.

"This Is a legal, not a moral determination.

We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for Its evidential weight and seek a determination.

Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there is no comparison between the arrest of several women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike ride.

The royal Incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct. The Boobs on Bikes Is promotional, he said.

The Erotica lifestyles Expo begins at 5.30pm today at the Convention Centre in Palmerston North and run through to Sunday.

Two pornstars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Opposition to the expo is growing, and police have also contacted church leaden over possible protest action.

One of those leaders, the Salvation Army's Craig Millington, is calling on Palmerston North people to boycott the expo.

Major Millington said his church won't picket the show, but It will have a caravan outside the Convention Centre to try to dissuade people from going in.

He said he knows other churches plan to picket, but the Salvation Army Instead will "appeal to people not to encourage the exploitation of men, women and children in the pornography Industry".

Police may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's square today at 5pm.

The event kicks off a three-day Erotica expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint — after the event.

Mr Handcock says offensiveness is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to it.

"This is a legal, not a moral determination. We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for its evidential weight and seek a determination.

Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there is no comparison between the arrest of several women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike ride.

The royal incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct. The Boobs on Bikes is promotional, he said.

The Erotica Lifestyles Expo begins at 5.30pm today at the Convention Centre and runs until Sunday. Two porn stars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Opposition to the expo is growing, and police have also contacted church leaders over possible protest action.

One of those leaders, the Salvation Army's Craig Millington, is calling on Palmerston North people to boycott the expo.

The Erotica Expo will return to Palmerston North next year. Organiser Steve Crow said 7000 people attended.

He had anticipated 2000 and had budgeted for that number while hoping for 5000.

The three-day R18 sex expo in the Convention Centre featured American porn stars, jelly wrestling, nude body painting, a male strip revue and 34 exhibitors.

POLICE may prosecute organisers of the Boobs on Bikes ride around Palmerston North's Square tomorrow at 5pm.

The event kicks off a three-day Erotica expo in the city.

Police area commander Pat Handcock says anyone offended by the ride has the right to lay a complaint — after the event.

Mr Handcock says offensiveness is determined by various factors, including the number of women and children who see and object to it.

"This is a legal, not a moral determination. We will take complaints from people, parcel that up for its evidential weight and seek a determination.

Then we may take a prosecution."

He said there is no comparison between the arrest of several women in Wellington who bared their breasts at Prince Charles and the topless bike ride.

The royal incident was protest action, and the women were arrested for alleged disorderly conduct.

The Boobs on Bikes is promotional, he said.

The Erotica Lifestyles Expo begins at 5.30pm tomorrow at the Convention Centre and runs through Sun-day.

Two porn stars and four models are scheduled to ride in the Boobs on Bikes event.

Opposition to the expo is growing, and police have also contacted church leaders over possible protest action.

One of those leaders, the Salvation Army's Craig Millington, is calling on Palmerston North people to boycott the expo.

Major Millington said his church won't picket the show, but it will have a caravan outside the Convention Centre to try to dissuade people from going in.

He said he knows other churches plan to picket, but the Salvation Army instead will "appeal to people not to encourage the exploitation of men, women and children in the pornography industry".

Mr Handcock said police are conducting a "risk assessment" of possible protests.

He said the investigation is part of "general planning", given there could be opposition to the event.

Mr Millington said he has no intention of attending The Square ride, and is reluctant to approach the press over the expo because of the publicity it would generate.

But he said the Army has first-hand experience of the damage porn does, and has worked with those harmed by it.

"People who work in the industry usually have an addiction or a dual addiction. Porn is closely associated with prostitution.

And the people being exploited are the poor, the vulnerable and the abused.

"As a healthy, caring city, do people in Palmerston North want the sort of stuff the expo dishes up? Shouldn't we care more about the people who are working in it, who are victims of it?"

Mr Millington said neither he nor the Salvation Army is prudish.

"Sex is great in a loving relationship. This is not about sex. It is about exploitation."

He said the church may be criticised for taking a moral stand, but that a stand will be worthwhile.

"In 10 years' time, society could start allowing paedophilia. Can we take a moral stand against that?”

For those who find the female form appealing, it must have been an unusually titillating few days.

The week in which the world celebrated International Women's Day has seen plenty for the nation's schoolboys to snigger about bustling its way into the news columns.

From Golden Bay's naked cyclists vowing to defy a police ban next year and top-less protesters in Wellington juggling with Prince Charles for the media's attention, to strippers taking to the streets of Palmerston North yesterday to promote the opening of an Erotica Expo, the D cup has runneth over.

Images that once would never have been seen in family newspapers or on early-evening television have suddenly become commonplace.

Whether this is symptomatic of a disturbing moral decline or an increasing and healthy maturity is moot.

Such publicity stunts though, interesting as some may find them, do tend to draw attention away from the real issues of the day - like peak oil, climate change, the Middle East (ironic that the United States should stridently lay down the law on Syria's "invasion" of Lebanon when it has so many troops itself on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan), the ramifications of the woeful performance of the US economy and so on.

And then, of course, there are the issues that International Women's Day itself attempts to give voice to.

Never mind that New Zealand women outlive men by five years, that most of the top jobs in this country are held by women and that the weakening Y chromosome is a genetic time bomb for the male half of the species ... the fact that the world dedicates a special day each year to ponder women's plight suggests there is much to be done before true gender equilibrium is reached.

The biggest meeting of women ever was held in Beijing a decade ago.

There, following a series of platitudes and supportive speeches by world leaders, international agreement was reached along the lines that women are people too, and due the basic human rights that are taken for granted in countries like ours.

Among other things, the summit agreed that domestic violence is a problem in all countries and that governments should intervene to prevent it - something that has been receiving welcome attention recently from the New Zealand police.

However, it is in some of the world's developing nations that women's rights remain stuck in the stone age.

So-called honour killings, genital mutilation, slavery and enforced prostitution, gender genocide and whole villages where only women are "allowed" to work in order to feed their starving families but none can vote suggest that, for many, the reality has changed little in the decade since Beijing.

Even in countries which have tried to outlaw the worst excesses, cultural, religious or traditional habits are proving difficult to beat.

This may all seem rather a stretch from life in New Zealand, where in 1893 women were first in the world to get the vote.

And of course it is. However, that the antics of a few breast-baring protesters gains more news prominence than the worthy-but-dull messages of International Women's Day does not alter the fact that some "women's issues" remain in this country, particularly domestic violence and some pay structures.

And it is worth considering too, that, irrespective of the anatomical differences that have gained prominence this week, we - men and women - share equally the responsibility to right wrongs, that women's rights are really human rights, and that a vital step on the road-map to world peace is to raise the standing of women. That will take much breast-beating yet to achieve.

ROSEMARY MCLEOD

I'LL BE honest with you: I thought of shaking my booty at Prince Charles, but got stage fright.

I also had a cold - a lame excuse, really, since the day was fine. And then, I guess I thought I might scare the old boy.

He looks sort of fragile, as if he might cry if you weren't careful.

It's such a worry, I find, thinking of how to handle a formal occasion like meeting heirs apparent on walkabout, and this seemed like a convivial shortcut.

Women used to wear hats and frocks and stockings and carry handbags in readiness.

That simplified things a lot, because we always knew we were suitably attired.

We used to curtsey, too, to royalty - but that's so unassertive and servile, and nobody wants to be that.

Besides, you had to be fully clothed, which is so old hat.

It's a serious challenge for the upwardly mobile, to catch royalty's eye and capture the zeitgeist.

The last thing we want to appear to be is colonials, slaves of a defunct Empire, which is why so few people even noticed that Chuck was on tour.

And I think the two Wellington women who did shake their booty got it right.

We have to find our own way of greeting and relating, preparing for the day when we snip ties with England once and for all.

The two women four-breastedly blazed a trail that will take us forward with sartorial confidence, and set a new formal behaviour standard.

The bare backside to royalty trick we tried was never going to cut it. In tight pants it's too much of a struggle.

Bare breasts, on the other hand, are seriously politically correct, and bound out of clothing with ease.

They are not only bilateral, they are bicultural, and surely in the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi.

We're a country that's run by women - witness the latest parliamentary speaker, Margaret Wilson, who started her new job last week.

We should make the most of it.

The top girls should be learning from last week's display.

They'll realise they should flash their bosoms with pride in a nod to Polynesian cultural practices and a collective affirmation of radical feminism in action.

It would do wonders for the Governor-General's charisma as representative of the Crown, and the lineup on state occasions would be awe-inspiring.

The only problem would be where to pin the gongs.

Protester Hanah Plante had a virtual manifesto scrawled across her torso.

"Get your colonisation shame off my breasts", she (or a friend) had written in large letters, hoping Chuck could handle a speed-read.

She explained she was protesting because colonialism meant women could no longer let it all hang out.

While applauding Plante's style, I differ.

There are many reasons women don't go bare-breasted, the most compelling, surely, being the weather, especially in the capital, where one's mammaries could resemble wind socks in a strong northerly, with unintended consequences.

I to the former owner of giant mammaries in America who sold one of her implants on eBay last week; the pair of them had once delivered a battering to a hapless male patron of her art.

We wouldn't wish such accidents on strangers standing down-wind.

There's also the delicate question of boob sag.

I want to go easy on these pioneering girls, who did it for us all, but their carefree flourish invited critical scrutiny, and at their age many women would despair of such sorry mammary outline.

The four protesting breasts drooped sadly, something most women prefer to do in private.

We'd have to do some work on this troublesome aesthetic issue.

Holly Emma Goldman, Plante's fellow protester, seemed to have another issue.

"I just want to feed my baby" was her battle cry as police hauled her away.

Both women seemed angry that a breast-screening van had been removed from Civic Square for the prince's visit.

How Goldman was prevented from feeding her baby is unclear.

My hunch is that the protest was more than a breakthrough in formal etiquette.

There was also a desperate attempt to communicate with the world's most eligible widower, soon to be married to a woman who never let others have a sporting chance.

Part of the aim was charitable, sure.

He'll soon have only Camilla Parker Bowles' bosoms exposed to his regal gaze, and deserved a last look at what the future will deny him. But there was self-interest there, too.

The women were in need of male attention, and willing to advertise.

While hooking Chuck was a big there was no harm in getting the world's attention, and they had to get in quick — Friday's Boobs on Bikes in Palmerston North, organised to celebrate the opening of an Erotica Expo, was bound to be killer competition.

As the city's Christian mayor put it beforehand, the ride by topless models would "wave the message in people's faces".

Such is the wind factor in Palmie. Life is hard on the droopy.

What a delight to see letters to the Editor about the upcoming Sex Expo.

Someone other than me writing about sex in the Manawatu Standard!

It's great that people are prepared to express their views on this important topic.

THERE'S so much pressure imposed on us these days around the issue of sex.

Much of the information and images provided only serves to perpetuate the myths and thus the pressure grows.

Unrealistic expectations and lack of accurate information inevitably result in private agony and doubts for so many people.

If sex wasn't talked about openly in matter-of-fact ways as you grew up (and not many of us had that privilege) you may or may not have managed to talk openly with your sexual partner about the experiences you're having or not having.

Sometimes these discussions are hampered by a lack of awareness of needs: as someone said to me recently

"How can I ask for what I want if I don't know what it is?"

This highlights the need to seek information and make sex a topic of reading, discussion and exploration.

For those who strike problems with this task that feel un-resolvable, professional help is now available.

Will the Erotica Expo be a good source of accurate, realistic, helpful information?

Local people appear to have differing views on this question and of course all of those can only be conjecture at this stage.

Although this morning as I sweatily biked past a local timber yard I noticed a large billboard advertising the expo.

The young woman erotically and horizontally stretched the length of the poster was marketing clearly aimed at heterosexual males still subscribing to the old fantasy model of sex.

Most of the recent newspaper letters seem to be based on the assumption that sex is a destructive force which we need to keep contained by following clear boundaries laid down by others.

Problems arise when those constraints, based as they appear to be on the notion that there is a singular, ideal sexuality (heterosexual, marital), are too narrow to fit the circumstances of everyone.

Or law-abiding citizen though you are, you happen to react against externally imposed controls on your morality and your private behaviour.

I would certainly agree that sexuality needs boundaries in order to find healthy expression.

Who sets those boundaries is an important question. All human beings have both the choice and responsibility of expressing their sexuality in ways that are life-affirming rather than life-destructive for themselves, their partner and family and for society.

The trouble is that prohibitions, boundaries set by others, including higher powers, have been shown to be highly unsuccessful at stamping out behaviours that are outside of what is seen as acceptable.

Instead, such externally imposed constraints drive dangerous sexual behaviours underground.

While that may create a superficially pretty picture, in reality the very foundations of our society are undermined.

Public figures, both clerical and other, have been very painfully exposed in recent years as failing to follow the clearly established boundaries.

Surely this suggests to us the need to open up for discussion the whole notion of sexuality.

Human sexuality has been described as the sum of all those biological and psychological factors relating to our capacity to love, to be loved and to reproduce.

This involves powerful drives that we need to understand in order to ensure that both ourselves and our children make healthy choices and develop internal constraints.

There's no reason why those drives have to be destructive but it takes maturity, knowledge, self awareness — strengths that are only developed through open communication.

We need to find a sex ethic that is sex and relationship-positive, respectful of the sexual diversity that is society's reality and aware of the dangers of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Open discussion is a good step towards creating this.

With sex, as with alcohol, drugs (prescribed and illegal), food, spending money and other aspects of everyday life, there will always be moments of temptation to indulge in ways that could, or ought to be, regretted.

The adrenalin buzz that arises from pushing the boundaries can be so powerful.

But let's not allow sex to be something sordid.

Be aware of the difference between instant and delayed gratification.

The high that may come from sex outside of your own moral boundaries (even if you don't yet know where they are) is short-lasting, like the energy rush that comes from eating sweets.

Soon afterwards the hunger returns, maybe accompanied by some regrets or guilt and so the search for more is ongoing.

In contrast, when you have given yourself to loving sexual expression in a committed relationship there is nothing more deeply satisfying.

Robyn Salisbury is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Sex Therapy New Zealand, a referral network. To seek professional help with any sexual Relationship problem checkout www.sextherapy.co.nz

It is surely a measure of the startling diversity of life today that Palmerston North hosted an Erotica Expo and a cancer fundraiser on the same weekend, with both events, no doubt, drawing to a certain extent on the same people.

It seems the expo outperformed the Relay for Life in terms of numbers (7000 versus 2200, roughly), but that is probably no great surprise, given that nothing quite like the expo has been held in the city before.

But the relay remains an astounding event, epitomised by the effort of one team from a supermarket which raised more than $10,000 toward the cause, which culminated in a total of $206,600 being collected.

The thing about cancer, of course, is that as the population ages and people live longer thanks to the advances of medical science, the incidence of cancer increases because many people simply live long enough to be troubled by it.

A century ago it was a vastly different story and the diseases of the moment were those which today have largely been wiped out through vaccines and a general improvement in hygiene standards.

It is said that pockets of so-called Third World diseases still exist in New Zealand where living standards are low and overcrowding occurs, but by and large we have never been healthier and our life expectancy is steadily increasing.

As for the expo, organiser Steve Crowe seemed to be a happy man at the end of the weekend, as well he might have been, considering the crowds who clicked through the turnstiles were considerably bigger than he had forecast, the Salvation Army was friendly and the peripatetic protester who apparently follows the expo around failed to deter those who were determined to find out what it was all about.

What that was seemed vaguely reminiscent of one of those long-weekend craft shows.

In the case of the Erotic Expo, both the entertainment and the exhibitors were of a somewhat different nature, but according to Mr Crowe "Mr and Mrs provincial New Zealand" had no difficulty coping.

Some will see that as a measure of how much society has grown up, others as another symptom of the moral decline which afflicts today's world. Or maybe people just wanted something different to do.

Being a porn star is not all it's cracked up to be, says Jane Bowron who began to feel sorry for porn king Evan Stone at Erotica 2005 at the weekend.

OUTSIDE the entrance to Palmerston North's Convention Centre a religious nutter is yelling into a small mega-phone about the evils of pornography.

Two black, expensive cars pull up outside the door to Erotica 2005 and out struts American porn star Evan Stone.

A camera on his shoulder films the entrance of his co-stars RayVeness and Syren, then he turns the camera round and films himself.

He yells out to the religious guy: "Hey, is it all right for the Catholic Church to condone its priests having sex but not okay for the rest of us?"

The queue agrees and Stone, who has long hair and a face like a rapacious fox, bounces his way into the building looking lasciviously at Vicky Lee from Miss Popularity, who's been hired for the weekend just to walk around and look pretty in pink.

I have been assigned a minder for my visit, name of Ray Simpson, son he says, of the legendary rock singer Corban Simpson.

He says these days dad whiles away the time drinkin' and fishin' and doesn't like his son's involvement in the porn industry or approve of his years as a stripper in the male revue Show Boys.

The Show Boys gig was way better than working for the ASB Bank, my minder says, as is his present job as 2IC to porn king Steve Crowe.

He seems to be the only guy around with a full head of hair — the rest of the crew hired to keep the public's cotton-pickin' hands off the strippers have shaved heads and over-developed upper torsos.

We watch a jelly-wrestling competition between a couple of lasses from Hamilton who pull their opposite number's top off and spank each other with the erotic conviction of two-year-olds.

In between rounds they break from wrestling to throw jelly into the Palmerston North crowd, who go mild.

Stone is on stage in thigh-length boots and a multi-coloured pair of Lycra short underpants, which have a tailor-made sleeve to accommodate his abundant manliness.

He tells the crowd he's been in more than 1400 — or was it 14,000, he's lost count — porn movies and launches into a standup comedy routine about a typical day in the life of a male porn star.

Far from making the mostly young male crowd envious, his black-humoured account of having sex in uncomfortable positions with lighting and sound men inches away from your genitalia, the difficulties of remaining a "man of steel" with all-male film crews waiting in the wings and the coldness of the female porn stars at the end of a hard day's work of intimacy makes you feel sorry for him.

He ends his spiel with the loneliest guy-in-the-world description of going home, putting on his sad-clown face and drinking.

This account varies with the one Los Angeles-born Stone gives me during an interview, at which he says that after a year or so in the business it occurred to him that everyone else in the industry was making the money and, um, he began to lose his focus.

He got it back by concentrating on the girl of the moment — "because there's always something beautiful about each one" -- and then one particular girl, a porn star called Jessica Drake, to whom he was married for 18 months before she ran off with a direct-or, "thinking he could make more money than me".

"That's her there," he says bitterly, pointing to a poster of a suitably buxom blonde.

When I inquire about the state of the director's fiscal health, Stone jumps up and down with Rumpelstiltskin-like glee, laughing at the state of his cuckolder's career.

Stone assures me the bust-up was for the best because he's not wasting time working on that relationship.

Now he's having a committed relationship with Syren, he says, pointing to a part-Filipino diminutive porn star on the other side of the room who ignores him.

The stalls at Erotica are doing a roaring trade and I watch stallholder Sharon Ann try out a buzzing female sex toy on the arm of a passing callow youth, who is in a quandary about how it can be kept clean.

"Don't you know how to wash dishes?" Sharon Ann scoffs and fetches a large plastic fore-arm complete with hand and wields it at his backside.

I notice a pair of plastic feet on a shelf and ask the attendant what they're for. Apparently they are the moulds of a popular female porn star's feet.

When I ask what they do, he scratches his head and says they've been reduced from $95 to $50.

Talk about money for old rope.

Over at the BDSM stand, handcuffs are the biggest-selling item and there's a brochure from an alternative bed-and breakfast outfit in Tauranga, which has a private adult playground room and assistants on hand to come in and beat the living daylights out of you.

At another stall a woman is demonstrating an undulating red tongue that looks as if it's from Kal's [Kath & Kim] butcher-shop window and says it could be mine for $60.

A crowd has gathered round the carpeted stage and an erotic dancer comes out and gets her clobber off to reveal a boyish figure with "34DD real breasts".

She lip-synchs a song, does the splits, sprays her mouth full of whipped cream and slobber-kisses a few men.

She selects a big woman in her late 50s with Coke-bottle-thick glasses from the front row and we watch as the volunteer studiously rubs the oil over the stripper's entire body.

The crowd titters, not knowing what to make of this ill-matched pair, but the woman is undeterred, her face a picture of concentration as she completes her task.

Far from making one feel aroused by this graphic routine or titillated at the abundance of absurd props, all I feel is an insatiable hunger — for food.

On the way out, I notice that Stone, the old trouper, is in the vestibule writhing around in a cage in the harsh light of day.

I remember asking him earlier how old he is and he replied with the question, "You want to know how old I am or how old I really am?"

He stared right into my eyes with the gaze of someone who'd shagged his way so far into oblivion you could see the backdrop flapping in the far side of his brain.

"I'm 35," Stone told me.

"How long have you been 35 for, Evan?" I replied.

Porn stars visiting Palmerston North this weekend for the Erotica Lifestyles Expo are anything but shy about what they do for a living.

Tina Nash talked to American stars Syren and Evan Stone.

If it wasn't for the long Fabio-like hair Evan Stone could be your average American tourist.

People would have no idea he has featured in 1700 porn movies.

But with hair like that, he really does ooze porn star.

Although it's a wonder he is so protective of his hair given his face is hardly ever shown in his movies.

Evan and his girlfriend, fellow porn star Syren, are appearing at this weekend's Erotica Lifestyles Expo at the Palmerston North Convention Centre.

They have been starring in porn movies for six years.

They met on the set, but have only really been a couple for the past year after they met again at the Erotica Expo in Auckland last year.

They have done movies together, but most of their movies are with other people. Syren has appeared in 54 movies.

Having a relationship with some-one who isn't a porn star is almost impossible, Evan said.

They've both had unsuccessful marriages.

Syren's husband encouraged her to begin with, but she changed and became more confident and her husband didn't like that.

He had an affair.

Evans wife gave him an ultimatum.

He had to cut his precious hair, give up being a porn star and go work for courier company UPS.

He just couldn't do it.

At least Syren is able to support him, he said.

"She rings me up at work and tells me to have fun and she means it."

Having sex might be their job, but they don't get sick of it when they get home.

Boring and sex just don't go together in this relation-ship.

"The more you have sex the more you want it," Evan said.

Syren will come home with a new move and Evan certainly doesn't get upset and hassle her about where she learnt it.

"I'm like 'wow, where did you learn that!' "

Evan does one movie a day, but his record is five. And it's done without the help of Viagra.

I tried Viagra once, but it didn't agree with him.

"Viagra makes me flush.

It was cold outside and everybody was doing it.

It didn't work out well for me.

He says he has to know how to keep himself performing.

"I focus on something unique about her. She might have beautiful eyes."

He says he's never failed to complete a scene.

Evan has reached celebrity status in the United States.

He can't go to a shopping mall without being accosted by people.

He played Hercules in one movie, so people yell out "hey Hercules" because they can say that without pronouncing to the world they watch porn movies.

Being a porn star wasn't a life-long goal for either Evan or Syren.

They both kind of stumbled across it.

Evan was in college playing football and was going to join the army, but he broke his knee and neither organisation wanted him anymore.

He started dancing and was a Chippendale dancer for eight years, before meeting some people who got him into the porn industry.

Syren was an executive assistant in Hollywood working for a producer, and going to acting school.

Her boyfriend at the time started taking pictures of her in the bedroom.

She liked what she saw and decided it was something she wanted to explore.

She and her boyfriend, who eventually became her husband, started going to swinging clubs.

So when she did her first movie, having sex in front of other people wasn't a problem.

"I absolutely love being watched. I like the fact there is a camera there.

I like the freedom.

I like the sexual freedom and being able to express myself in a sexual way that I didn't have when I was growing up," Syren said.

Her mother doesn't know and would probably have a heart attack if she did, Syren said.

She's been able to keep it a secret so long because her mother lives in the Philippines, where Syren was born.

"I'm going to have to face it some time soon. I'm sure she will be fine with it. She'll get over it," Syren said.

Evan's mother is okay with him being a porn star. She has travelled to New Zealand with him.

In Hollywood, where they live, being a porn star is a cool thing.

"It's a novelty. A lot of guys and girls want to date me.

They trip out.

They try to hide their glazed eyes," Syren said.

Evan earns about $US100,000 a year.

"Before I had this job I had no need for an accountant, banker or attorney.

I've got a nice house, a couple of properties."

Women make about a third more than men and it's deserved because they work harder than the men, Evan said.

Women have to spend hours in makeup and having pre photos taken, whereas a guy just turns up and performs.

"It's the girls that sell the movie," Syren said.

It takes Syren five days to prepare for movies.

She has to build up for it mentally and likes to pamper herself.

"I go to the gym and the spa and get massages.

I have a story and script I have to learn as well and build that sexual character."

There are things Syren will not do in movies.

"I don't like men degrading woman.

I wouldn't do that.

I don't like submissive roles."

Evan has his limits as well.

He won't do bondage or wear blind folds.

He doesn't mind doing scenes with men in them, just as long as a woman is in between.

They get upset when people call their work degrading to women.

"It's such an easy word to throw out there," Syren said.

She thinks it's empowering to women.

They say they haven't had any cosmetic surgery, but many porn stars do.

So what happens when their porn star careers finish?

Syren plans to go back to Asia and work for women's groups in Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.

"I want to help Asian women empower them-selves in a sexual way, especially sex workers."

Evan wants to develop his existing studio where he produces and directs adult movies.

But he reckons he's got another 10 years of performing in him yet.

The hair will probably come off one day, he said.

He was asked to cut it for a movie where he had to play an attorney, but the company wouldn't pay the $20,000 he wanted.

If you just happened to be on Queen St August 2003, you would have observed the delightful Stars of Erotica Expo parading their rights to go topless on the back of some very fine motorbikes. That wonderful chap Steve Crow organised the get together, now known as "Boobs on Bikes" which debuted last year.

With the show just around the corner, its strongly rumoured at Erotica headquarters that Mr Crow is going to turn the heat up yet again, this time giving those Queen St strollers something to really talk about.

With 6 USA Porn Stars, and a dozen other models showing off their fine 'assets' this years Boobs on Bikes, as well as the show, is set to be the biggest yet.

So if you just happen to be on Queen St around noon Tuesday July20th , schedule that long lunch break now!

This made for exciting TV and an interesting debate over the proposed billboard for 2004.

A simple, but strong image of Celebrity Treasure Island's Hayley Marie graces the poster over the Erotica Expo logo which states the dates July 23 -25, Auckland Showgrounds 2004.

This has been deemed unsuitable under the new Auckland City Council bylaw proposing no outdoor advertising of Commercial Sex Premises.

We are not commercial sex premises however, something we proved clearly last night on the show, which gave a HUGE amount of free airtime for the Billboard!

A hot topic on News Talk ZB all morning, we here at Erotica couldn't be more pleased!

So look out for you're nearest billboard in your area soon!

And lastly, thanks to Auckland City Council for the free publicity!!

Cheers from the team here at Erotica Expo

LVNI stars Kylie Ireland and Jacklyn Lick debut new distribution deal for company

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND -- Las Vegas Novelties long time contract stars Kylie Ireland and Jacklyn Lick will be appearing at the Erotica Expo 2004 in Auckland, New Zealand. The appearance at the show coincides with the new exclusive distribution deal with Vixen Direct who now offers the complete line of Las Vegas Novelties products.

LVNI owner Serenity comments, "This is another step in the world-wide growth and acceptance of Las Vegas Novelties products. We are very excited to be represented by Vixen in New Zealand. They are very aggressive in marketing the lines they carry. Kylie and Jacklyn will do a fantastic job of kicking off this new deal at the Erotica Expo!"

The LVNI stars kicked off the week long festivities with the annual "Boobs on Bikes" run. The girls rode topless in a parade of motorcycles that heralded the start of the Erotica Expo. Jacklyn Lick comments, "The Boobs on Bikes was a BLAST !!! We did a topless ride through the middle of Auckland. Even the old ladies were grinning and waving at us We had a really good time."

At the show, the girls will be selling all their Signature LVNI toys, as well as posing for pictures and signing autographs. The Erotica Expo 2004 runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Stores in New Zealand interesting in stocking the Las Vegas Novelties line should contact Vixen Direct at +64 9 525 6808.

SEX TOYS THAT FEEL GOOD... AND ISN'T THAT THE POINT???

JULIA Taylor - the world's classiest porn star - is coming to New Zealand.

She will be one of the main attractions - alongside Ron "The Hedgehog" Jeremy and Phoenix Ray - at this year's Erotica festival in August.

And the blonde beauty will travel like a queen - she plans to bring some of the props from her latest porn set, Cleopatra.

"The people at Private - who made the film - have rebuilt part of the set and are shipping it over here," said Erotica organiser Steve Crow.

"She plays the part of Cleopatra in the movie and she'll even have a throne at the show to sit on so people can have their photos taken with her."

The porn queen shot into the limelight in 1998 when she appeared in films like Euro Angels Hardball and Rocco's True Anal Stories 13.

She has since re-shaped her image and last year starred in Gladiator - the highest-budget porn flick in history. Flying in from her birth-place of Hungary, Julia arrives here in August for the saucy festival but she's also planning to go bush for a bit.

Crow, who owns porn company Vixen Direct, said: "Private own the rights to her shots but they have indicated that they're keen to have her do a shoot in New Zealand.

"So we'll be taking her out on location and shooting her here for them.

"We'll probably take her up to the Waitakere Ranges or something."

So our great outdoors is set to become even more spectacular!

Truth has a feeling there'll be a few more walkers in the area.

GIANT breasts are popping up around Auckland - and people can expect to see plenty more nudity throughout July.

The massive mountains are being displayed on six metre wide billboards on seven sites around the city.

They advertise the Erotica Expo in August and say: "Better sex. How hard can it be?"

"They're grotesque! Why anyone would want to see a set of giant tits is a mystery to me," a concerned observer told Truth.

"I'm surprised there's not a censor-ship law that stops people from putting these things up."

But a passerby on Beach Rd said: `"It's great - what will they come up with next?"

He added: "They might cause a few accidents though."

Erotica have also erected huge naked male torsos across the city.

Organiser Fiona Gibb said Erotica hadn't yet received an official complaint.

"They've only been up for a few days but we haven't heard any-thing negative yet," she said.

"They were approved by the bill-board company and they would have had to get them approved by the advertising standards people.

"We weren't allowed to show heads - we were only allowed to use the breasts. So we did."

And what about causing car crashes?

"I would certainly hope that they don't - we don't want to be causing traffic accidents," she said.

"Is a six-metre set of boobs really that much of a distraction?

"I would hope drivers would be keeping their eyes on the road."

Gibb believed the billboards showed the biggest pair of naked breasts on show in New Zealand.

"It's the first time I'm aware of that bare breasts have been put on a billboard," she said.

But Erotica's advertising campaign won't stop at bill-boards.

"We've paid for six bus backs around the city," Gibb explained.

"We weren't allowed to show breasts on them so we've got a naked woman with her back to the camera with `Sex - it's not all we're about' written across it."

An advertising Standards Authority spokesperson told Truth it hadn't yet received a complaint about the busty billboards.

"They don't have to be approved by us or anybody - we just look into complaints," said a spokesperson.

"As far as I know we haven't had any yet but it's early days."

They were unable to comment about whether a complaint was likely to be unheld.

PORN star Cleopatra - aka JULIE TAYLOR - is heading to New Zealand for Auckland's Erotica Expo starting next Friday.

Her stand at Erotica is a spectacular Roman-columned extravaganza where Kiwi punters can meet her and have their photo taken with her.

One of Julie's beauty rituals is to bathe in fresh milk every morning - just like the real Cleopatra did - but the hotel she's staying at has refused to allow her to fill the spa with goat's milk due to OSH regulations.

And she can't bring her constant traveling company with her - Royal Cobra. Yes, you guessed it, he's a snake

A TOP international doctor is coming to New Zealand to cure our male porn-movie flops.

American therapist Dr Joel Kaplan is here on a national tour in August to help Kiwi blokes - porn stars in particular - battle impotence.

Earlier this year Truth reported they had problems performing.

We quoted Christ-church porn star Gina as saying: "As soon as the cameras start rolling and the lights go on they just flop.

"They have to give them Viagra and stuff like that but sometimes it doesn't work."

Gina told Truth Kiwi porn star flops had ruined her enjoyment of on-screen sex with men and had led her to prefer porn scenes with women.

"I prefer girl on girl stuff because it's easier," she said.

Kiwi pornographer Steve Crow agreed our hunks flunk in front of a camera.

He told Truth male Kiwi porn stars were a disgrace.

"You've never seen any-thing like it," he said.

"Most the time they'll just be getting into the groove of a scene when their equipment will let them down.

"It costs a lot of time and money to stop while they get themselves ready again."

This was something Crow reckoned Kaplan could help cure.

"He's a bit of a sex guru over in American Crow said.

"We'll definitely be getting him to check out some of our talent to see if he can stop them from going soft all the time," he said.

"I've discussed it with him and he believes there are a number of techniques that he could try with them." In addition to curing the well-hung men of the blue screen, Kaplan will teach everyday Kiwi blokes how to pump up their equipment so they, too, can have a shot at be-coming porn stars.

"He has this technique that can make penises bigger," Crow said.

"It looks a little like the penis pump in Austin Powers. Apparently it works - he has thousands of people asking him to cure them or make them bigger."

Crow said there were many aspiring male porn stars in New Zealand that could use Kaplan's help.

"It's a case of bigger is better when it comes to the porn business.

"There are plenty of guys that have auditioned for roles in my movies that could certainly do with some of his advice."

Kaplan's main clinic will be held at Auckland's Erotica Festival in August.

Crow said it would include a private booth where men could get a free check.

"It's a great opportunity to be looked at by one of the leading penis authorities in the world

This Wednesday August 6, five of the Erotica Expo's highest profile overseas guests will take to the streets of Auckland Central topless, in protest against local nudity laws which see exposure of the female breast considered "Objectionable" or "Obscene" by the authorities. In contrast, the naked male torso may be displayed anywhere as long as the genitals are covered.

The cavalcade of breasts involves five of the international adult industry's hottest porn stars, and they will be on the back of motorbikes taking their upfront assets to the streets - starting at 12.30pm in Upper Queen Street and continuing downtown.

The sexy cavalcade will consist of return visitor and 'honorary Kiwi' Shayla La Veaux - a legend in the adult scene and one of the queens of last year's Erotica Expo.

She will be joined by blonde Texan beauties Jessica Drake and Dolorian - made famous last year on Auckland's Viaduct when they quite literally stopped dead several America's Cup international media boats whilst shooting with Brass Magazine.

Sexy Hungarian redhead Julia Taylor is a first time visitor, as is Las Vegas resident Phoenix Ray.

The 21-year-old, 36c-24-25 blonde was most recently seen in High Infidelity and is one of the hottest young adult properties today.

The tops-free, "boobs-in-the breeze" ride has been organized by New Zealand's most notorious adult filmmaker Steve Crow, and the five women will be joined at the Erotica Expo this coming weekend by a bevy of fellow international guests.

Along with the adult stars, the world's leading male sexual health specialist, American Dr. Joel Kaplan, Australian dominant the Colonel, angle grinding performance duo the Hektix Grinders and Capetown-based male revue the South African Warriors will all be in town to educate, entertain and titillate - and we'd love to see you there.

Previously known to visitors as Erotica, the name change has come about for a variety of reasons. "The name change was initially to distance ourselves form the previous ownership, as well as broaden the base of exhibitors that we attract" says Steve. "Basically we've gone from being predominantly a sex-based, adult show to a lifestyle show with a sex flavor" he continues. They have also moved away from using shows like Sexpo as a model mainly by necessity. "New Zealand's adult market is dramatically smaller than Australia," Steve explains. "For reasons such as the fact that brothels are legal in Sydney, so they can exhibit at Sexpo. The adult video/DVD market in Australia is also a retail market, whereas in New Zealand it is a rental market. In Australia you can't rent adult - you have to buy it, so the financial return is much greater. We've only got about 50 adult shops here, in Australia there are probably more than a thousand."

They have always captured a lot of media in New Zealand simply by virtue of being based in the sex industry, "but we didn't believe we were getting what was fair value for our rising dollar" says Steve. "We found the media would shy away even from our sponsored cars - last year we sponsored the Number two midget car in New Zealand, the guy who won the New Zealand Grand prix, but got very little time on air because the cars were branded with the name Erotica. We were told that it was not a word deemed suitable to be shown on Sunday afternoon television. We spoke to them and they preferred the name Exotica, so we changed it."

Sports commentators had also in the past used the word "Exotica" by accident, so the name change seemed to be moving in the right direction. Hopefully the hint at the exotic will also attract exhibitors from the top end of the adult lifestyle market like jet skis and motorbikes.

Despite changes in the show format, Exotica will still be largely a sex-orientated show, having its roots in Australia's Sexpo. "It is also one of our strongest points," says Charlotte, "it is what draws the crowds and what people really want to see. Statistics have shown that over half the people we are getting through the show would never go to an adult shop, but feel comfortable in this environment." "Even then, some found the name Erotica a little too confrontational, so they will be happy with the change too" she says. "It is still good to maintain the R18 edge though, it keeps out the kids and people know they can visit the show and see something they won't see anywhere else in New Zealand. Then they can buy lots of toys and go home!"

In its first year Erotica had 16,000 visitors, in its second year that grew to 23,000 and this year numbers are expected to be up to 40,000. There will be over 130 stands with 5 metre walkways just to handle the crowds. There will be a lot more space this year as the venue has changed from the Logan Campbell Centre at the Expo Centre to the halls at the back of the same venue, making it a lot more user-friendly for visitors. "If people want to stop and take a breather this year they can, if they want to stop and talk to stall holders they can, if they want to take a break for some wine and cheese they can" says Charlotte. "This year the event has been carefully tweaked to be as comfortable as possible."

Celebrity guests this year include Jessica Drake, an American adult movie name with a body to die for, Evan Stone, a hot male property, and Delorien, a young Playboy starlet who has just made the move from soft core. The gorgeous Shayla La Veaux is also making a return appearance after wowing the crowds last year with her warm personality and amazing energy. Penthouse Pet Rachel James is also joining the list of luminaries and there are more names still to be advised…Very pretty eye candy for both boys and girls is definitely assured!

There will also be an amateur strip show (topless only) with six heats running around the North Island beforehand. They are looking for girls who really know how to play the crowd and get the best reaction - and all are to have absolutely no experience. "This is always a great feature of Sexpo," says Charlotte, "and it's not hard to get participants in such a supportive environment." And we're sure there will be no shortage of audience members either! There will also be a sensual art gallery component and associated competition for the best painting, photography and body painting. "We have found that there are a lot of artists out there creating erotic works of art, but a lot of galleries and cafes won't display it," says Charlotte. "This is a chance for their work to be appreciated in a sensual environment."

There will only be one stage at the venue this year, with around six of the same shows rotating throughout the morning/afternoon and evening. In other words, if you see a great show you can tell your mates and they can catch the same show later that day.

Exotica is definitely guaranteed to satisfy your every desire for yet another year, so bring your mates, your missus, even your mum! We'll see you there…

22-24th November Friday/Saturday 11am -11pm Sunday 11am - 8pm

Young racing talent Fabian Coulthard shares a love of speed with his famous British namesake David for a reason - it's in the genes.

The 18-year-old Aucklander is a cousin of Formula One racing driver David Coulthard. And one day he hopes to meet his relative on the circuit.

He says: "That's my goal, to be up against David on the track."

Fabian moved to New Zealand from England as a tot with mum Carol and dad Rikki, who sparked his son's passion for racing from an early age.

Says Rikki: "When I was 10 I went to the international karting circuit in Morecombe and that was me hooked."

Rikki had to wait until he was working before he could afford to race karts himself and then after coming to New Zealand 17 years ago he decided to focus his energy on Fabian's career.

"He seemed to have natural ability so I thought I'd help him, I'd build all the engines and so on."

Although distant cousins (Rikki's great uncle's grandson is David) - the link is genuine, and one the family plan to capitalize on in the future.

Already, the teen has about 140 trophies from his illustrious kart racing career and has now switched to Formula Ford.

These are single seater racing cars powered by 1600 cross flow Ford engines which can reach speeds of 230 km/h on the straight.

In his first full championship year Fabian has one win under his belt, at Ruapuna in Christchurch, and is currently fourth in line for this year's championship - a "rarity" so quickly, according to Rikki.

Now the plan is to master the New Zealand scene before heading overseas.

Rikki says: "If you can't win here there's no point going overseas. We'll use NZ as training then next year we're going out to win that championship.

"Then, it's a money thing. You need around $300,000 a year so we will need sponsorship.

"And that's when we hope the name will help!"

Sales of vibrators skyrocketed in the first three months of the year, according to adult product wholesaler Vixen Direct.

Vixen director Fiona Gibb said first quarter 2001 sales were up 25 per cent on the whole of last year, and that last year sales were up 25 per cent on 1999.

Ms Gibb attributed the increase to the company's Erotica industry exhibition in August last year and increased awareness of, and openness to, "adult toys".

The ability to purchase over the internet was also a factor, Ms Gibb said.

The company wholesaled to most shops in New Zealand, had its own web site sales company, and was able to monitor sales by others through overseas industry connections, she said.

Vibrators were purchased by married couples over 35 at the Erotica Exhibition, Ms Gibb said, and it was clear women were now shipping for their own.

Men who purchased vibrators for wives or girlfriends bought cheaper, $20, hard plastic models, while women bought softer and more elaborate models costing between $130 and $190.

Vixen partner Steve Crow said vibrators were taking an increasing share of the adult sex aid sector though digital video disc sales had exploded - up over 6500 per cent this year. Vibrator sales could easily reach half a million dollars this year, he said.

Sisters are doing it for themselves, alright!

While Aussie scientists said they found a way to fertilise eggs withoutsperm last week, it seems that Kiwi women are already making men redundant - that's if the latest figures for vibrators are anything to go by.

The number of vibrators sold by the nation's leading wholesaler of adult products has risen more than 25 percent in the first quarter of this year alone.The director of Vixen Direct, Fiona Gibb, puts it down to the greater ease of buying online and a similar increased openness on the subject."Thanks to the internet, women can now buy marital aids and bedroom toys in a far less confronting situation without the embarrassment factor."Gibb, who also organizes the annual Erotica Expo, says these are more comfortable situations for women than shops, which may be seen as a more male domain.

The other change is in the amount women are spending."We used to sell a lot of $20 vibrators to men for their girlfriends," says Gibb, "but now the average sale is between $130 - $190 - and it's women buying for themselves!"While Gibb reckons there's a growing acceptance of sex aids down under, in Holland it seems the reverse is happening.

Customers who sign up with KPN Communications for service from phone company Tring are given a free Nokia mobile phone and a battery-operated sex toy.Some love the erotic freebie, while others turn red with embarrassment, despite the country's reputation for liberal laws on brothels, prostitution and cannabis.

It's a reputation that has drawn visitors from all over the world to sample the sex shows.Nokia has already branded the promotion 'disgusting' while KPN's won officials have urged Tring to drop the deal.

Fiona Gibb stands at one end of a big purple desk at the headquarters of her company, Erotica.

The desktop looks like a massive erect penis.

This smart, intelligent and attractive 40-year-old woman is literally at the head of New Zealand's sex business.

And she's part of a growing number of powerful women in the sex industry.

The sex and porno industry has traditionally been run by big strong blokes, usually gangsters and pimps.

A lot of heads have been turned by the meteoric rise in recent years of European companies like Ann Summers, which started girls-only party nights selling sex toys and naughty lingerie.

Gibb heads the Auckland Company that is dragging sex toys and pornography out from under the mattress and into the living rooms of ordinary Kiwis gagging for a shagging.

She loves purple.

Her company logo, the uniforms of the girls and her MG Roadster with the personalized plate EROTCA, are all purple.

She got into the sex business six years ago.

Partner Steve Crow runs a company that imports the Private line of European porno films.

Private is the supplier of the latest adult erotica from Sweden and Germany.

The pair went to the Aussie Sexpo and Fiona thought: "Why can't this work in New Zealand?"

Last year, she made the Erotica Expo work against massive opposition and endless criticism.

Two years on, she is staggered at the demand for a second Erotica later this year.

Fiona attributes much of her success to being a woman but she's not comfortable with the fact.

"That makes me really sad because people discriminate. But hey, it's certainly worked for us," she says.

"The company being fronted by a woman makes a huge difference when we front up for TV interviews for Erotica.

"People see it as softer.

"If you're articulate, reasonably intelligent and a woman in this industry, you're accepted in a different way."

But it hasn't always been easy.

She has come up against some prejudices for being in the adult industry.

Fiona says she had an account with plenty of money closed by a major bank which didn't want to be associated with porn.

But she reckons her new job beats her old one hands down.

"In the car industry, I had a corporate position in a big company. I was the only female in a team of 15 males on the management team and I was treated like s**t.

"There was total sexual discrimination - lots of sexual remarks and comments on the way I looked.

"I've never had that in the adult industry."

She says many people are too scare3d to ask about sexual subjects which arouse their curiosity.

"Erotica helps break down the barriers and social stigma."

Erotica now enjoys a high profile and is a proud sponsor of the K-1 kickboxing tournament, a Western Springs midget car racing team and this season's fastest Formula Ford driver Fabian Coulthard, a relative of Formula One contender David Coulthard.

The Erotica exhibition was attended by 16,000 people last year and that figure is expected to double in November.

Fiona says the only person who complained to her was an 87-year-old lady who insisted there was not enough eye candy for the women.

Erotica copped a lot of flak from some Christians but Fiona says that's not all bad news.

"Erotica is entertaining and fun, it's not sleazy or degrading.

"Criticism is good because it encourages debate."

So what turns on a woman who is constantly surrounded by porno images and sex toys?"

"I don't like to talk about that," she says with a cheeky smile.

"It's amazing that as soon as people find out what I do, they immediately want to talk about sex.

"People are fascinated about what we do."

People are also mesmerized by girls taking their clothes off and 26-year-old Rachael Kirk has been satisfying that demand for the last two years.

Her business is booming, something which she also attributes to being a woman.

"I think I get treated better than the men in the industry," she says.

"I have a lot of respect for the girls who work for me.

"I also get a different reaction from customers, because they are not looking at me as a sleazy old man.

"I'm a girl with a group of girls. It's a more professional image, not like a pimp.

"We're dealing with other women a lot of the time and women these days are more powerful than ever and open about their sexuality."

Like Fiona, Rachael was inspired by an Aussie company.

"I thought I'd love to set up one the same in New Zealand but make it more wholesome.

"The girls have said I'm the only person who makes them feel that stripping is wholesome.

"I make them feel there's nothing wrong with stripping - it's entertainment.

"People are so much more open to it these days."

Rachael's company Smooth Exposure supply a range of strippers, from those who only strip down to their underwear to red-hot girl-on-girl action with fruit and vegetables that leaves nothing to the imagination.

They get into 69 positions, do jelly wrestling, use candles, toys, vibrators, even strings of pearls.

Rachael insists the shows are always conducted in a classy manner, that it's not grubby and only a "little bit sleazy."

"The girls are always dressed in matching outfits, they sit on the guys' knees and have fun.

"The girls touch each other and kiss each other and the boys pay lots and lots of money to see it, which is great," she says.

Not all the new breed of sexy ladies are into exhibitionism.

Ema Lyon, Nick Mercer and Wendy Lee chose to make their mark with dildos. They formed a company to make them.

They now own and run the D.Vice sex toy shop in Wellington and also organize sex toy parties that have become known as F**kaware parties.

"Being a woman in the business has absolutely helped us," says Ema.

"We're something different from the mainstream sex industry.

"And there's a real need for that. When there's a choice, people will come to us.

"The difference is that we're women doing it."

Ema says she loves seeing sex toys inspire other people who want to be turned on by something different.

"Personally, I'm into living life to the fullest. I don't drink, don't take drugs, I fun a sex toy business," she laughs.

"Take the Serpentine, our G-spot vibrator."

It's an S-shaped clear acrylic dildo specifically designed for G-spot stimulation.

Ema says the Serpentine is their best product.

"I designed it, so I should know."

Auckland - A New Zealand sex show gave away 1000 vibrators on the streets of Auckland yesterday to celebrate what it said was international orgasm day.

"Everyone should embrace international orgasm day whether solo, in couples, or as part of a group", said Fiona Gibb, a spokeswoman for the Erotica Adult Lifestyle Expo.

"It's all about acknowledging the pleasure from being in tune with your sexuality," she said.Ms Gibb said the day was further evidence that people are becoming more open about sex.

In June, a major British sex shop chain, citing a recent survey that showed 80 percent of women faked their climax during intercourse, declared July 31 as National Orgasm Day.

A New Zealand sex show gave away 1000 vibrators on the streets of Auckland yesterday to celebrate what is said was international orgasm day.

Fiona Gibb, a spokeswoman for the Erotica Adult Lifestyle Expo, said: "It's all about acknowledging the pleasure and delight from being in tune with your sexuality."

Truth babe Destiny helped celebrate International Orgasm Day on Wednesday.

She joined adult concepts company Erotica to give away 1000 vibrators in Auckland's Queen Elizabeth Square.Joining them was Formula Ford racing driver Fabian Coulthard and three Harley Davidsons.

Erotica's Fiona Gibb says: "Everyone should embrace International Orgasm Day whether solo, in couples or in a group.

"We're helping to demystify and break down stereotypical attitudes to sex by providing adults with direct access to frank and accurate information on all aspects of sexuality.

"The company is holding this year's Erotica Expo on November 8 - 11 at Auckland's Expo Centre in Greenlane.

Free vibrators were handed out to 1000 members of the public in a promotion for International Orgasm Day this month.

People wandering through Queen Elizabeth Square in Auckland's CBD on August 8th were approached and offered the adult device.About 100 head massagers were also distributed.

A few people approached said "no thank you", says event organizer Fiona Gibb. But most smiled and accepted the gift.She is a director of Erotica Ltd, which runs the Erotica Adult Lifestyle Expo being held at the Greenland expo centre in November.

The first Erotica expo in New Zealand was held there last year. Gibb staged Orgasm Day to make a big splash for the coming expo. But the day is also held in the UK and US - initially staged by sellers of adult products in those countries.

Following her promotion this month she was interviewed by two Australian radio stations and Reuter's international news agency. Stories appeared around the world in publications such as the South African Financial Gazette, and on a London Internet site.

She believes New Zealand Truth and TV Extra is the only local publication to mention the handout. Gibb also owns Vixen Direct, a wholesale distributor of adult magazines, videos and adult products.

A taste of some of Erotica's Exhibitor highlights for 2001:

· Rosie Magazine, the raunchiest contact magazine on shelves around New Zealand. Guys, girls, couples, you name it, Rosie has it, along with great articles and fab pics.

· Aristocrats Adult Shop, the largest adult shop in the Bay of Plenty, specializing in adult toys, magazines, lingerie and adult videos.

· The Sauna People, able to build a sauna to suit your requirements, either indoors or outdoors. Get your free information pack on the world's finest saunas, steam rooms and sauna accessories.

Red Baron Motorcycles, Throbbing? Vibrating? Legs spread? Easy ridin? Protection? Mind-blowing? What do all these words have in common? YOU can experience them all @ Red Baron Motorcycles, NZ's largest motorcycle dealer.

· World of Essence, providing global essentials for health, sensuality and abundance. Beautiful high quality aromatherapy and flower essence products - individualized blends, gift baskets and personal consultation.

· European Vintage Wines, with a full range of German white wines and French reds plus a unique range of New Zealand cream liquers.

Lighten Up, Sex is Fun

The inaugural Erotica, held in Auckland in August 2000, was a spectacular success; 16,243 adults visited the show over the three days it was open. Of the 500 people sampled in an exit5 poll, 45% were women, 34% were married, and the oldest person surveyed was an 87-year-old lady, who suggested there should be "more eye candy for women". The 2001 event is planned to be three times the size of Erotica 2000, with 115 stands covering 3,000 square metres of exhibition space.

Two female adult actress from PRIVATE; the world's best adult company, will be visiting the Expo: Sophie Evans, who was nominated as the top female actress at the recent porn version of the Oscars and is the biggest porn star in Europe at present and Lynn Stone, star of the new Private Virtualia series. Private are also intending to bring a male porn star, Tony Ribas, a Spanish actor and probably the best looking male actor in the business at the moment. Private's Marketing Director and one of their star film directors will also be attending the show. Private will again be a star exhibitor at Erotica. An American porn actress, Shayla LaVeaux, will be promoting her own video and toy line; previously unavailable in New Zealand.

Bree Maddox, the 2000 Penthouse Pet of the Year is returning this year with her own stand to promote her 2001 calendar, which will be released, and for sale at the show. Bree will be autographing her calendars and once again entertaining us with her very professional stage shows. The current Penthouse Pet will also be attending the Expo.

The New Zealand Angels, New Zealand's premiere erotic dance review, will be special guest stars and will have a stand selling merchandise and photo opportunities. Expect this year's stage production from this team to be truly spectacular with hard- hitting light, sound and pyrotechnic displays to complement their exquisite costumes and choreographed routines.

All stars will be available for photos with visitors and to sign autographs and meet the public.

In addition to the adult actors and actresses and Penthouse Pets, Erotica are bringing to New Zealand several very unique overseas entertainment acts, the likes of which have never been seen before in NZ. We can't go into any details at this time as we want these acts to be a surprise to visitors to the show.

An extra day has been added, Thursday 8th November, and will be special for women attending the Expo; a free gift will be given to every woman who visits the show on Thursday.

There will be a number of door and sop prizes, including overseas and local holidays, giveaways, and makeovers.

This year Erotica is continuing to expand on its policy of sponsorship of sports and other entertainment activities, and will dedicate a significant part of its sizeable marketing budget to sponsorship of the Erotica Midge Car Racing Team, the Fabian Coulthard Formula Ford Team and the K1 Tournament to name but a few events. Erotica will be presenting a sizeable cheque to a selected charity for its door take. It is policy to support a charity each year; last year it was our troops in Timor and this year, another good cause will benefit from people visiting the show.

Erotica is as much an entertainment venue as an Expo. There will be two stages with shows every half hour on either on of the stages.

Sex sells and now itseems it is selling even more.

The adult industry - estimated to be worth $100 million to the Kiwi economy - is experiencing rapid growth.

A leading adult products wholesaler recently said 25% more vibrators sold in 2000 than in 1999. And this year sales are up 25.2% in the first quarter.

The same wholesaler, Vixen Direct, turns over more than a million dollars a year distributing sex toys, adult videos and magazines. Established eight years ago, it recorded growth of more than 600% in 1995 and 1996 and continues to grow.

The exact size of the adult industry in New Zealand is difficult to estimate but massage parlours and strip clubs are increasing. The number of licences issued to parlours has doubled in some parts of New Zealand in the last two years and adult stores - shops selling sexual paraphernalia as well as adult magazines and videos - are proliferating. There are 52 adult shops in New Zealand, 20 of which opened in the last four years. Increasingly they are found outside the traditional red light districts in main shopping areas.

In the United States the adult industry is worth an estimated $US28 billion, while the Australian Financial Review estimates the Australian industry at $A3b. New Zealand operators put the industry here at a conservative $100m.

"A lot of those figures are probably shy of what it is," said Fiona Gibb, director of Erotica, an adult lifestyle expo held for the first time in Auckland last year.

"A lot of those businesses are never going to declare what they make but the industry has grown hugely here in the last few years.

"People aren't so scared anymore. The media and the internet has changed things. You can put an adult shop in a mainstream shopping centre. That shows not laxness on the council's part but that things have changed. Those are things legitimizing the industry."

But size isn't everything. While clearly there's a market - the inaugural Erotica at Auckland's Greenlane Expo Centre last year attracted more than 16,000 visitors - the adult industry in New Zealand struggles for corporate credibility.

Part of Erotica's aim was to demystify and legitimize the business of sex, said Gibb, who has run an adult products wholesaler with a business partner for eight years.

As the adult industry becomes more legitimate, legitimate business is becoming more involved - or at least more open about its involvement.

In the US, for example, publicly listed company General Motors is involved in supplying pay-per-view adult films to hotels.

"There are a lot of mainstream companies that have what I'd call the mad old auntie in the attic. And quite often that's the company that keeps them level when their own industry is going up and down. Whether it's videos or magazines or a strip club or a massage parlour or whatever. There are lots of big mainstream companies around the world that have a finger in the adult industry." Nevertheless, it faces barriers winning corporate credibility.

"The bank was the worst one," Gibb said. "They'd been our bank for years, then one year we filed a comprehensive business plan and they actually discovered what we did for a living. They never knew before, you just put down you were a wholesaler or a retailer. And they basically shut us out and closed our accounts overnight."

When Gibb floated the idea of an adult expo last year her worst critics were from within the industry. "They honestly didn't think I could take something adult and put it on a mainstream platform. They believed the only way to sell these things was the traditional dark alley approach."

But the success of last year's show proved there was a desire to experience the red light district in a more brightly lit environment.

This year's expo will be three times bigger with 115 stands when it is held in November. "We held it in August the first time because that was the only date we could get. But, now we can pick, we have gone for a more summery date - bear in mind some of my exhibitors have to walk around in bikinis."

Gibb expects more than 25,000 to come through the doors over four days.

As well as an increase in adult products and services, there had been an increase in lifestyle clients, she said. Alongside the sex toys, lingerie, magazines and videos, exhibitors this year include mineral water retailers, spa pool manufacturers and photography studios.

"The fear of association has gone. There was a stigma at being associated with the erotic industry but at the end the day erotica has always been a marketing tool.

Bree Maddox is back in town.

Anyone with their eyes shut or living on the moon might not know that Bree was last year's Penthouse Pet.

Now she's back in New Zealand to promote the Erotica Adult Lifestyle Show in Auckland on 8 November.

Bree hails from Western Australia but says she adores New Zealand.

"I love coming over here. The crowd's great - the men and the women." So, does this mean the topless model is bisexual?

"No, I'm not," she protests.

Bree has been going out with her boyfriend for a year now.

And yes, the lucky bugger is rich.

Bree - who appeared in the Andrew Blake X-rated film Secret Paris - says he owns the Australian based website adultshop.com, which sells among, other sexual playthings, a vibrator shaped like a koala.

Since winning her Pet of The Year title, Bree has been working non-stop.

She finished a double degree, did some acting in a TV movie, appeared in infomercials and hosted a TV show.

She has also become an internet star, appearing alongside Kylie Minogue on an Aussie celebrity site.

A Hamilton chocolate maker is diversifying from her regular lines this month to prepare for the Erotica Adult Lifestyle Expo 2001.Robin Goss is making chocolate breasts and penises to sell at the Auckland expo.

But it is not just about sex say organizers Fiona Gibb and Rikki Noonan. The expo is about any and all services and products that are part of adult lifestyle. "Sex is just part of those lifestyles," Rikki says.Last year's expo saw more than 16,000 people through the doors and Rikki says they are expecting more this year. "We think it will be three times the size of last year. We didn't expect to see as many people through as last year".

Rikki says 45 percent of visitors to last year's expo were women and 34 percent were married. More entertainment for females is a focus of this year's show - the oldest person surveyed by organizers after last year's show said there wasn't enough "eye candy for women". She was 87.Rikki says there were a lot of Hamilton visitors last year, but people are coming from as far away as Invercargill this year.

Organisers couldn't reveal all features of the expo, but Rikki says there are three porn stars coming from America."The Expo is just great fun and it gives people an opportunity to go in without being confronted. It's a friendly environment," says Rikki.

An Adult Industry: Bib Business in Breaking Sex Taboos She's beautiful, she's brainy, she wears Versace, drives a purple MG and owns her own business.

Fiona Gibb could be a high-energy dotcom entrepreneur or pass as a slightly flamboyant corporate lawyer - you certainly wouldn't assume she runs a sex empire.

But Vixen Direct, the business she started from her suburban Auckland garage, is the country's biggest adult video distributor. It also sells sex toys and operates internet businesses, while the sex and lifestyle expo Erotica it launched last year was a huge success - and not just among the raincoat brigade.

The day I slink into Vixen's Ellerslie headquarters - I admit I even found myself looking round to check no one saw me going in - Ms Gibb and her team are flat out preparing for next week's Erotica event. She is checking photos of Penthouse pet Bree Maddox, whom she brought out here to promote the event, and talking about her troupe of promotional product girls - another business she has on the side - and how Vixen sponsors motorsport and boxing. "I'm a petrolhead from way back," she says, almost straightfaced.

As her offices are purple-themed - "it's my colour" - and she calls her staff "sweetheart" when they serve tea and bikkies, she'd be 90% Ab Fab and 10% Linda Lovelace. It's about now I feel very silly for having been so wussy about being seen walking in Erotica's door.

Sure, the pictures on the wall are more lurid than your average office (unless you are a panelbeater) but the amount of hard work is obviously just the same - and most importantly, so is the money rolling in.

But is hasn't always been like this. Ms Gibb's life story would make the plot of great rags-to-riches paperback - and not an X-rated one.

A Rotorua girl, she had a tough time growing up. Moving around constantly with her psychiatrist father and physiotherapist mother meant she went to 12 different primary schools: "I was really quite rebellious."

She left school with only School C and "did a lot of things" including direct-selling Mary Kay cosmetics: "My bubbly personality meant I never wanted to just sit behind a desk," Ms Gibb said.

She didn't have it easy - as a single mother, she dealt with her son Darren's serve attention deficit disorder - "he even got kicked out of kindergarten" - recovered from a serious car accident in which she broke her neck and struggled for money.

"There were days when we were really scraping together the money for a bottle of milk."

Her big break came when she answered an ad for a secondhand car salesman. She got the job working in a caryard in Manukau: "I found I had this real talent for selling a bigger ticket item than a bottle of moisturizer."

She became the top selling salesperson and her obsessive organizational streak saw her reorganize the yard's office.

"While the others were sitting down having coffee I was learning all these office and business skills just because I can't sit still."

Ms Gibb went to Japan on two buying trips at the height of the Jap import boom and ended up living there for a year. She acted as a liaison between the Japanese agent and buyers from New Zealand, Russia and the UK: "I organized everything from passports to partying."

Back in New Zealand Ms Gibb went to work for larger-than-life auto man Bill Peart - you might remember him from the Wynn's oil TV ads - running his franchise business.

She was the first female executive Mr Peart had ever employed - it took him three months to even come round to the idea of hiring a chick.

"Instead of learning at university I learned on the job about accounting and budgets. It was an incredible learning curve. I also learned about what not to do," Ms Gibb said.

The Wynn's empire collapsed two years after Ms Gibb left.

But it was there that Ms Gibb met her business partner Steve Crow, a property developer behind the classy Remuera apartment development 456 Remuera Rd. (Auckland mayor John Banks is one of its residents).

The pair's live-in relationship ended earlier this year but they have remained business partners.

When Ms Gibb left the Peart empire she took over a small mail order business owned by Mr Crow, Grafton Marketing, which sold adult CD-ROMs. That company has not grown to become Vixen Direct.

In the early days Grafton Marketing had very few titles, but Ms Gibb signed up to distribute product from Nasdaq listed giant Private Media Group, a $500 million company headquartered in Spain.

"It's run by businesspeople rather than the traditional type of people in the adult industry."

Ms Gibbs' company became a video distributor selling to main clients United Video, Civic Video and Video Ezy. Adult titles can make up to 10% of a video retailer's profit if they manage them properly, Ms Gibb recently told a conference of retailers.

Vixen had 600% growth each year in its first few years and is now making "a lot" of money, although Ms Gibb will not reveal figures.

But is has not all been easy.

"It was a blast but because we were in the adult business we have been discriminated against," Ms Gibb said.

She said when her partner Steve Crow showed their bank, ANZ, their business plan the bank realized for the first time what business they were in and instantly clamped down on their accounts, pulling their overdrafts and stopping them from drawing on uncleared cheques.

"We had banked with them for five years and within 48 hours we were effectively shut down," Ms Gibb said.

ANZ said it was part of a restructuring of their medium-sized business accounts, but Ms Gibb said the business managers made it clear they did not like what Vixen did. "All of a sudden it was like I'm a naughty girl and someone's slapping me on my hand."

ANZ public affairs manager Steve Fisher said at the end of 1998 the bank did restructure and there were some teething problems. But he could "virtually guarantee" it was nothing to do with the industry Ms Gibb was in.

Ms Gibb said without the ability to borrow money and with little working capital the business had been built up using its own cashflow and relying on strong relationships with its suppliers and customers.

"It's about building relationships based on honesty and trust - being able to convince people you're good for the money in six months time."

Even so the pair knew they were on to a winner. "It was a gut feel, we knew this company was going to work."

Until Vixen came on the scene there was very little good European adult products available, with most products sourced from the US through 17 separate distributors. Now there are only three, with Vixen and Video Wholesalers the two biggest.

The adult industry has been at the vanguard of new technology and Ms Gibb and Mr Crow were early pioneers of DVD and websites, technology that has revolutionized the industry. At one stage they owned the sex.co.nz names among others.

Ms Gibb said the sex industry was in the process of becoming more mainstream and less stigmatized - just look at what Sex and the City has done to make discussions about anal sex acceptable.

"The internet has done a lot to change that - you now have access in a friendly, comfortable environment in your own home."

Ms Gibb is passionate about rehabilitating the image of the adult industry and has become its unofficial spokeswoman - among her crusades is fighting for clearer law on censorship (not a top government priority).

"One week you get cuts to a video, the next week they will allow it. There is no set of rules."

Erotica has also been part of her plan to change people's attitudes.

"A lot of the idea for Erotica grew out of passion for changing the face of the adult industry in this country - we are still living in the dark ages."

Ms Gibb believes there is a hypocritical prudishness among the business community. She tells a story of going to a black tie function at an accounting firm. The people she met were fascinated by her and wanted to know all about the sex business - but on a business level they are still scared to be seen anywhere near it.

"People you deal with at the coalface think you are fantastic but it is higher up they worry about the company's reputation. Businesspeople at the top are prudish about maintaining the business 'name'."

This year she hopes Erotica will be twice the size of last year - "which did not just make money, it made a lot of money."

Some publications like Metro will now run the ads, which are just words, "with no busty blondes," but others, like Next, still won't, even though Erotica's focus on sensuality and aromatherapy would fit perfectly with Next's alternative health focus.

Ms Gibb had to overcome widespread opposition to Erotica, even from within her own business: "My own industry told me I would not pull it off."

She said some of the success of last year's event came down to good business practice - she kept a tiny team and worked very hard.

Forty-four per cent of the 16,000 visitors to Erotica were women and this year she aims to get 25,000 people through the doors.

She even had an agree-to-disagree discussion with Christian Heritage Party leader Graham Capill after he criticized Erotica. "I think he was surprised I was intelligent and articulate, not some sleazy old man."

Ms Gibb, who has never been married, describes herself as old-fashioned and says she is waiting to meet the right man. "I still believe families should be families."

She doesn't accept criticism that the sex industry and events such as Erotica are destabilizing to marriages.

Ms Gibb's argument: the two biggest problems in relationships are money and sex. "We can't fix the money problems but we can fix the sex thing. We're trying to promote a healthy attitude to sex. We're keeping marriages together."

She is honest about the downside of working with sex all day - sometimes she has to watch eight adult videos and eight DVD's a month, before sending off the paperwork to the classification office. "I'd be a liar if I said it didn't affect your sex life. But you're responsible for keeping that side of your life happy."

This time when I leave the building I keep my head up and look around. Hell, if she can, why shouldn't I?

New Zealand Truth and TV Extra 9 November 2001 Unchain my heart, you vixen.Chain-mail beauty Vanessa doesn't mind being called Vixen - she even has it on her number plate, with two Xs.She says it sums her up - a female fox with an alternative lifestyle.

Vanessa is the daughter of Truth's mate, the hypnotist Guy Cater. She's also a budding actress who recently starred in TV's Lawless - as a jelly wrestler.When we caught up with her she was getting into a right mesh with her new bikini from the Den Adult Concepts.

"I love their stuff," she says.You can see a lot more of Vanessa at this weekend's Erotica Adult Lifestyle show, where she'll model the Den's sexy lingerie.In case you're wondering Vanessa - a sales manager for Club Physical gyms - has a man in her life. He's a hunk from hit show Stripsearch.

Porn movie fans can glimpse one of their favourite stars when Shayla La Veaux appears at the Vixen stand at the Erotica expo.

She has starred in 190 porn movies and has featured on the cover of 120 magazines.Sexy Shayla was in Sorority Sex Kittens 1, 2 and 3 and Orgasmo, (from the South Park team).

Shayla is launching her new video, Shayla Down Under, which was filmed in Australia earlier this year.

She will also be launching her own brand of adult toys and is on the lookout for up-coming talent to star alongside her in a future movie.

A while ago a colleague was flicking through a Hustler magazine at work (for research purposes only), and discovered to his delight, among the classified

advertisements for goods and services, my double demonstrating a range of adult sex toys, and clearly getting a lot of job satisfaction from it.

There was much hilarity around the office and some speculation that I was a fraudster and my past had finally caught up with me.

Luckily for me, her magnificent boobs were distinctly not mine and my credibility was restored. While I was somewhat horrified back then, it seems that now, only a few years on, I should have coolly taken credit for my evil twin's antics, since erotica has come out from under the bed and should be proudly waved about for all to see.

Here in New Zealand, we are lucky that the Erotica expo of the last few days has given those slowpokes a few ideas in the let's-jazz-things-up-a-bit-department.

Never before have average punters witnessed such flagrant and explicit sexuality in an exhibition.

I attended the show on Friday morning, and I must confess that (call me old-fashioned) it all seemed a bit incongruous at that hour.

Anyway, while I was going to suggest that I attended for research purposes only, I am aware that this may make me seem a bit of a prude. So, here's my line: anything that makes Auckland a more colourful and interesting place deserves to be supported. Let's leave it at that.

Turning up to such a gig alone was a little out of my comfort zone. Indeed, most people I knew planning to attend were going to do so en masse so as not to feel too conspicuous. So I took my husband, who wasn't exactly an unwilling accomplice.

Erotica was a mix of orgasmic fantasia meets every other show that uses the showgrounds. The spa pool people, the motorbike people (who made an effort to sex it up a bit with such classy copy lines as "Do you like it on all fours?" to push quad farm bikes), the mineral water people and, of course, the legalise cannabis folk, who are now familiar friends to trade show regulars such as myself.

While the more hardcore stands were certainly saucy, once you've seen one fluorescent dildo you've seen them all. And, after a while, one felt like Tony Soprano in his Bada Bing nightspot, somewhat disconnected from the hot action.

But what a great effort to even get a show like this off the ground in a country so embarrassed about its sexuality. While I could imagine in Australia people would be jeering and cheering at 11.30am, my fellow attendees were mainly awkward groups of westie blokes who tried to act relaxed and casual while sneaking a jolly good perv.

We stayed for one of the floorshows in which I was characteristically picked from the floor to get up on stage and pull down some guy's jeans, all this being suspiciously recorded on a wide lens camera. "I'm here for research purposes only," I felt like shouting into it.

I got my free t-shirt and then we went home in time for lunch. Did we buy anything? Sure, he bought me a cup of tea, and I bought him an orgasmatron, which is actually a wire spider-like device used to massage one's scalp. I wondered if this is just called a plain old scalp massager at other more tame trade shows.

Sex has always been popular and no one needs an excuse to indulge, especially in these days of Sex in the City. But with erotica retailers coming out of the back alleys and on to the high streets, and free-flow pornography on the internet, we are being bombarded with 101 ways to push the boundaries.

It's not acceptable to wheel out the standard routine. One feels pressure to rark it up a bit and throw in a few bells and whistles.

Thus it looks like Auckland will be enjoying the Erotica exhibition for many years to come, despite those awkward Kiwis who probably just needed a stiff drink and a bit of a prod to really get into it.

Sex, yes, it's just one more thing we all have to be good at.

It's 1pm on a drizzly Auckland afternoon and already the place is packed, just two hours after the opening of the second annual Erotica Adult Lifestyle Expo.

"We had queues at the door and 500 people through in the first hour," marvels expo director Fiona Gibb, whose girlish good looks imply butter wouldn't melt in her mouth; however, she is also New Zealand's biggest importer of pornographic videos.

The expo is three times the size of last year's and it rocks. There are two stages featuring the regular raunchy shows, giant video screens showing non-stop explicit sex, stall after stall selling such things as vibrators in all colours and styles, studded condoms, "joy jelly", magazines you would not find oat your local bookstore, leather gear and whips for bondage fans, and even a device called the Orgasmatron, used to stimulate the scalp.

In one corner of one of the two large pavilions, you can have your photo taken with a topless woman for $15, but a large crowd is enjoying the sight of two Chinese couples surrounded by at least 10 naked women. It's hard to count the exact number because they are entwined like serpents around, under and on top of the grinning four having their picture taken.

Among those watching this spectacle is a uniformed police sergeant laughing his head off. Not that many years ago, he would probably have arrested them. This is, after all, the country where actors in the musical Hair had to wear bodystockings, for the nude scene and where feminist author Germaine Greer was prosecuted for saying "bullshit" in public.

"Are you boys ready to see a bit of pussy?" Calls Australian Penthouse 2000 "pet of the year" Bree Maddox from offstage. "Yes!" they roar, and she emerges in a tiger suit, which she soon slips out of.

If any of this sounds sleazy, like an expo for dirty old men in raincoats, you're wrong. The most startling thing about it is that almost all the people packing the pavilions are couples - ordinary couples from their early 20s through to many who look in their 50s and 60s.

And it is the women who are obviously relishing it the most, roaring with delight as Bree stuffs a vibrator in her g-string and gets their men to suck on the other end of it. They're eagerly buying vibrators, big rubber penises and strings of small balls guaranteed to bring on all-day ecstasy when worn, um, internally, and they're cheering "get it off" when the male strippers come on stage.

"I've made certain we've got a lot more eye-candy for the women this time," says Ms Gibb. "We had women last year saying there were not enough guys on stage. An 87 year old told me there were not enough men."

The throngs of happy customers show how the sex industry has become mainstream, she says.

"It's not just about porn shops now. People realize there are all kinds of things that can enhance their sex lives. It's really healthy".

Last year, the expo ran for three days and drew 16,000 people. This year's which ended yesterday, is a four-day event and Ms Gibb is confident it will have drawn many more.

Many of the exhibits are not overtly sex-related. The pro-cannabis lobby group Norml has a stall opposite a "garden centre" which sells products that look remarkably capable of being used to cultivate and smoke the stuff. Another sells mineral water, another home saunas.

Proving that some men see big sets of wheels as penis extensions, a huge blue plastic penis stands erect above a motorbike exhibition. The sign on one of the bikes reads: "Do you have a big one?"

There are also stalls for family planning, Aids education and the Prostitutes Collective, whose members are collecting signatures for a petition supporting Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett's bill before Parliament to legalise prostitution.

"We're getting plenty of signatures, which you'd expect in a place like this," says one of them. "A lot of guys here with their girls want to sign, but you can see their girl looking at them a bit suspiciously, as if she'll go straight home and chick his Visa statement."

Down by the big stand of Vixen Direct, Ms Gibb's porn movie and sex toy company, you can meet Syren, the star of 50 films, many of them on sale here.

"I love the adult industry," says Syren, who's flown from home in Los Angeles for the expo. "When I started three years ago I was very shy, but a bit of an exhibitionist. But this business has made me very sexually empowered."

There are porn films and there are porn films. Syren says she makes only quality movies with a proper script - "visually provocative, story driven films with very hot, wild sex", not low-budget "gonzos, gangbangs and wall-to-wall videos shot in people's living rooms". Many of her films are up to 90 minutes long. In her latest, Les Vampyres, she plays … a vampire. She's also proud that her role in the film won the "best lesbian sex scene" award from XRCO (the X-rated Critics Organisation), a body of film critics from all the major American adult publications and websites.

It's hard work making porn films, she says, and her schedule is packed. She flies out of Auckland tonight for Miami where she has an engagement to dance at an adult nightclub. She is also trying to break into mainstream acting.

"I make a lot of money, this is a good business to be in. The demand for these films is growing and growing and I travel all over the States signing videos for my fans. I'm here signing from 11am to 11pm over four days and it means I really don't have any time to see much of New Zealand, but I'd like to come back."

Over at the main stage, scores of women are hooting with delight as four athletic men peel off their underpants to reveal the skimpiest g-strings imaginable.

"We'd like to have had (popular male strip group) Kiwi Fire here, but they're on tour," Ms Gibb says. "But these guys are just as good. Listen to them scream, the women love them."

She got the idea for the expo which is based on the successful Sexpo in Sydney, while traveling overseas to buy products for Vixen Direct. "I saw that and I thought, God, I can do this in New Zealand. New Zealand's ready for it." But given the financial risks involved, she's determined to be cautious about expanding it. She'll see how well next year's Auckland expo goes before considering one elsewhere in New Zealand.

"It was hard to sell to exhibitors last year because the idea was so new, but people liked it so much that exhibitors were keen to be here this time, that's why it's so much bigger. But it is still a lot of very hard work."

About 23,000 people visited the four-day Erotica exhibition in Auckland,

7000 more than last year. Saturday was the busiest day, with some visitors saying it was so crowded they could barely move. Organiser Fiona Gibb said exhibitors were delighted with business.

It stood proud at Erotica 2001.

Even American porn goddess Syren was impressed.

The 3.2m phallus shaped couch can accommodate dozens of bums at once.

The Designer had it specially made in Erotica's traditional purple colour. "We call it The Big Purple Penis because that's just what it is," she told Truth.

"The other couches represent testicles and the pubic hair, all nicely cropped. The Designer lives in Whangarei and drives a big convertible '77 Land Cruiser with a 350 Chevy engine. She says it's like a tank. She loves her town. She says the club scene is great. Her boyfriend is in a local band and she confesses that she is "a bit of a groupie". Also at the Erotica expo was a woman who is living proof even cowgirls get the blues.

Tina Dunlop is a dairy farmer's wife from Pokeno who was unhappy with her undies. She wanted frilly knickers, satin panties, sexy Basques and lacy bodices to wear in the cowshed instead of plain pants.

So she launched her own mail-order company, Sharalie Lingerie and Essentials. Now she imports fancy pants from America to bring a little naughtiness into the lives of fellow farm wives.

Curvy Corinna Jones is enough to make other girls green with envy.

The shapely blonde grabbed our attention at last week's Erotica show. Corinna runs a model agency that supplies hot promo girls for corporate events.

Some time ago she was tragically widowed - and was left to bring up her son, five, and daughter, 10, alone. But now she has found love again and is set to re-marry soon.

The happy couple plan to tie the knot on a Jamaican beach and then sail off on a long loveboat cruise around the Caribbean.And the 28-year-old stunner will be dressed to thrill on the big day.

Corinna says she's going to wear a tight dress with a split up the sides to show off her figure. Look out for Corinna at the Big Boys Toys expo at the Auckland showgrounds this weekend. And keep an eye out on the net for her upcoming website: www.stunrz.com.

"My word, hasn't it grown? It's twice the size it was before."

No jokes intended that's what the punters were saying about Erotica 2001 last week.

The show that brought sex out of suburban closets was in town again and Truth reporters were there to cover it.

The popularity of the show at Auckland's Expo Centre has proved that Kiwis are gagging for a bit of naughty behaviour.

But Erotica isn't like going to a sex shop or adult store - there's plenty more on offer.

The show is attended by couples of all ages.

And it wasn't all whips and dildos.

There were stands from two motorbike companies, a spa pool company, two charities, and one even promoting cannabis law reform.

There was also plenty of adult entertainment.

Punters at this year's expo were treated to several erotic dances by ex Penthouse model and Truth babe Bree, as well as shows from the New Zealand Angels and other acts.

Erotica was started by businesswoman Fiona Gibb - who had seen a similar show in Australia.

"It's called Sexpo over in Aussie and I thought if it could work over there then why shouldn't it work in New Zealand?" she says.

"But everyone said it wouldn't work over here. Even people in the adult industry in New Zealand said that New Zealanders weren't ready for this type of show.

"They said Kiwis are too conservative to come to a show like Erotica.

"But I was convinced it would work and this year Erotica is double the size it was last year".

"It's not just the crowds that have doubled it's the people who want to show off their products as well," she says.

She will be a volleyball player in a new drama about rival strip clubs.

One is a female club run by a man, the other a male club run by a woman.

They challenge each other to a game of beach volley ball but one side brings in a couple of Amazonian ringers.

As Vanessa is 1.8m, works out, and has a bod to die for, she got the part hands down.

Luscious American porn queen Syren was in New Zealand only hours before declaring she wanted to come back to shoot film of her bonking Kiwi men in our famous green outdoors.

"I want to be filmed having sex with muscular, sexy New Zealand men in your lovely outdoors," she told Truth in an exclusive interview.

"I've always had a fantasy of f*** men in the great Kiwi outdoors because I heard a lot about it and have seen pictures of it.

"I've also heard you've got some great Kiwi men and looking around at the people coming through the front door, the reports I've had are not wrong."

The curvy Los Angeles-based Syren, who has featured in more than 50 porn films, was one of the overseas attractions at Erotica 2001.

At the expo men were queuing up to have their pictures taken with the woman known as the 'Goddess of Seduction' sitting on their laps.

She arrived late Wednesday for the Thursday opening of the annual adult expo.

"I'm disappointed at not having the time to stay here longer and shoot some hot scenes but I'll definitely return - make no mistake about it."

She's got a new herbal sex pill in her teeth. Alesha was spotted at the Climax stand at Erotica showing off the pill that claims to prolong and intensify orgasms, keep the fellas pointing north a lot longer, and increase stamina and endurance.

The pill is supposed to work for both sexes by increasing blood flow to vital parts. Alesha tried it and says it works.

I wonder if Anais Nin would have gone to the Erotica Expo? I pondered this as I made my own flight of sexual discovery to that notorious bordello of sin, Auckland's Epsom Showgrounds.

It took only three minutes to realize this was life Jim, but not as I knew it.

OK, I know my photo byline makes me look like a cheeky schoolgirl who's about to whisper "you've been a bad boy", but looks can be deceiving.

I'm a nice girl. Honestly.

There could have been a number of reasons why my erotic voyage didn't work out. Next year somebody has to go to the marketing pervert who books the venue and yell those words: "Location, Location, Location."

Who decided a beige building across the road from a maternity hospital was the right place to gather giggling hordes of sexual experimenters? How could I possibly enjoy a sexpo in the same place I first saw the Whiskas Cat Show with my family?

The road to hell began as I parked the car. The first seconds of your erotica experience is being ripped off by old men in raincoats. For the kind of money they're asking to park 600m away from the venue, I expect them to don skimpy negligees and sing hits from Moulin Rouge.

At the door I was viciously frisked by someone the same age as my grandmother. As far as the eye could see, there were people who looked like your aunty and uncle. The sort of people who attend family reunions and tell you "you're a good kid".

The male friend I was with was turning shades of albino - the possibility of becoming a voluntary eunuch was more attractive than what was in front of us, he said.

With great trepidation we entered, my friend assuming the role of sexual sherpa. I am not good in crowds, especially those containing men in iridescent G-strings.

First up were the less than titillating motorbike and sauna displays. Then I stumbled across a man with a mullet offering to lash me - alas if only we'd had time to stop.

Somewhere between the Prostitutes Collective and female hygiene gel displays sat the Family Planning Association, which had saucy brochures displaying the plethora of diseases available to consumers.

This was getting me all excited when I found myself face to face with a prosthetic fist standing proudly alongside a cabinet full of multi-coloured phalluses. How, I wondered, is changing the colour going to improve the situation?

I kept on hiking through the sea of smiling faces, into a room where woman were lining up to get their Brazilians. No, not the greased, impressively torso'ed South American male version. More the white, pasty, pre-pubescent hair shave variety. A woman holding a wax staff shouted like she was the Queen o f Hearts talking about Alice's poor head coming off. I felt no connection to a woman who extolled the virtues of turning your nether regions into the Gobi desert.

Wandering around the remaining displays, including tattoo parlours and beer stands manned by women wearing traditionally sexy clothing, I was struck with how this was a whole lifestyle for some people.

It's all so obvious. The sexual underbelly is simply another club, full of people who just want to belong. It's about a sense of community.

The grand finale of the day came with the 2.30pm performance of a stripper who appeared to have the talent of a nude Romanian gymnast. The men at the front cheered heartily, clapping each time she successfully managed to stand on her head and climb the pole.

Perhaps it's my lack of gymnastic training and ability to pole vault that explains why I am still single.

But after hours of perverted perusing, I came to the conclusion that there was nothing erotic about erotica.

It isn't sensual wandering around a concrete hall with 8000 other curious bods. It isn't sexual watching a strip show with men who look like your uncle.

And it's just plain unnerving how homely and unsexy, sex fans are.

The chatty, super-bright Penthouse Pet and on-line centerfold recently graduated in the top one percent of students at her local university but has no qualms about baring all for the camera.

"There's nothing wrong with the female body," says the 21-year-old Perth woman, who has a commerce degree in marketing and PR

"I guess that was instilled in me from quite a young age. I was taught that there's nothing wrong with your body and to celebrate what you've got rather than hide it."A fashion model since she was 10, Bree, who visited New Zealand recently to promote an adult lifestyle expo, started posing naked for magazines when she was 18 and has no regrets.

But shouldn't someone as intelligent as her be aiming to be a doctor or lawyer?"Why is it that the people who have those brains feel obligated to do those professions?" she asks.

"When you talk to a lot of lawyers, they hate it. I don't see why I can't be in this industry. What law is there out there that says I have to go on and be an academic or in an educated profession?

"I use my degree all the time because, every day, I'm either negotiating contracts, maintaining relationships with clients or marketing myself by giving interviews. I'm enjoying this profession so much and it's lucrative."

Indeed it is. Using her earnings, Bree financed her studies and, this year bought her first house. And her 80-year-old grandmother is one of her biggest fans."My grandmother goes and buys every magazine I'm in," says Bree.

"She went on TV in Australia and said she thought my photos were beautiful and that she was very proud of me."On the subject of feminism, Bree says she's neither a feminist nor an anti-feminist.

"I don't see myself pushing the feminist movement back or pushing it forward. It's never been my goal to do either of those."

EROTICA, they say, is tickling your lover with a feather. Pornography is using the whale chicken. But in modern life, bombarded as we are with sexual images, references and nudity, can erotica exist? Or have we unleashed the chicken and for all? Erotica Expo 2000, New Zealand's first adult Concepts Lifestyle Expo is being held in Auckland next month. The expo-which will bestrictly RI8 promises a fun and uninhibited celebration of sex and sexuality, ripping the brown paper off information, products and services of an adult nature.

The expo is based on similar shows in Europe as well as the phenomenally successful Sexpo in Australia, where last year the 300 exhibitors attracted 70,000 visitors - a lot of couples and 40%, women - rivalling the annual bridal and homewear events. The slogan? "Sex is fun-lighten up". Erotica's organisers are also targeting middle New Zealand. Some exhibitors would not be out of place at an A&P Show, with spa pool manufacturers, a mineral "distiller distributor and cellphone accessory retailer alongside the more predictable top shelf magazines, lingerie manufacturers and adult stores.

The products might fail to titillate, but there will also be entertainment, including male and female strippers, every hour although organiser Fiona Gibb says the G-strings will stay on in deference to the mores of the crowd. Even with skin on show, it sounds more like a commercial trade fair than a garden of unearthly delights. Can erotica exist under the bright lights of the Greenlane Expo Centre? Or will the glare of public scrutiny strip the sexual paraphernalia of any power of suggestion, rendering it just so much plastic, skin and leather?

Gibb at least doesrft believe erotica withers when exposed to the light. Mystery and suggestion is an important part of erotica for many people but that doesn't equate to enforced ignorance, she says.

"We are not demystifying (erotica) in such a way as will ruin it. I actually think that we are putting the power back into people's hands to create erotica," she says.

"I'm hoping that people come away not shocked-but more educated in some way about what goes on."

Gibb, who runs an adult entertainment wholesale business, says the expo aims to illuminate the adult industry for those who still see it as the preserve of men in dirty macs, and give them the tools to create erotica for themselves.

The expo promises something for every adult who makes the decision to attend, she says.

"They know when they bought their ticket, they know when they hopped in their car to drive to this expo that it's RIB. Maybe some of them are going to be shocked at the nature of what some of the adult products are like but they'll find something in the aromatherapy centre or the health centre or the DVD shop that they didn't know about"

The point at which something ceases to be erotic and becomes offensive or obscene will always come down to the individual, Toni Lee, author of the soon-to-be released book Bare: Erotic Stories, says.

For her, erotica relies very much on the power of suggestion. "Erotica is subtle. It's about what happens in your mind and your heart and your soul, not just in your body," she says.

Where people draw that line also depends on their culture, context and period, clinical psychologist Ted Mason says. "I think the power of suggestion is in the eye of the beholder. It's like any art image. Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture is immensely suggestive to me but perhaps to other people, it isn't, perhaps other people just see a house."

The suggestion can be screamed rather than whispered but, the effect of erotica does come down to suggestion, he says. "The purpose of erotica is not only to arouse but to be enticing, to be somewhat magnetically seductive. I don't think explicitness will ever eradicate our need and desire to be enticed."

Certainly at the first Miss Erotica pageant, being held as part of the build up to the Erotica Expo, judges will awarding marks on what the contestants promise ather than what they deliver.

The 13 entrants include dancers, strippers and enthusiastic amateurs. But they will need to do more to wear (just) the coveted Miss Erotica crown than take off their clothes, Shaine, one of the judges and the owner of an Auckland strip club, says. Contestants decide for themselves whether to strip right down and it's not compulsory to take off any clothes at all.

"The most important part about erotica is the teasing part of it, the suggestion of it. Any girl can go up there in a bikini and just whip it off," she says.

One barometer of the public's perception of what's acceptably erotically suggestive and what's offensive, is mising Standards Authority executive director Glen Wiggs says in the 10 years he has been at the ASA he has seen those lines in the sand shift and there's been a basic "liberal trend".

"The bimbo ads, the blonde sitting on the bonnet of the car, that's too blatant and crass these days."

Some ads manage to be explicitly suggestive - as in one where a woman's body spray has a physical effect on the male model in her life drawing class or another where a woman's enjoyment in using a particular shampoo would normally be caused by a completely different activity. The ASA standards bar ads which use sex in ways completely unrelated to the product but ads that are "sexy and funny" are OK, Wiggs says. Erotic or sexually suggestive

ising simply reflects the world we live in, he says. "A day wouldn't go by without hearing a remark or being told a joke which is slightly off colour and you laugh. That's just part of the way we do business in life."

And it always has been. Take the jumble of erotic artefacts discovered in the ashes of Pompeii and other ancient Roman towns 250 years ago, a collection that had been kept locked away under royal order at the National Archeological Museum in Naples.

The more than 300 items included paintings of love and sex between nymphs, gods and satyrs, phalluses of all shapes and sizes which were given as gifts or used as votive offerings, and statues, including a second century marble of the mythological figure Pan in intimate congress with a goat. In April the collection went on public display at the museum for the first time, although with an X-rating. The move was damned by the Vatican which saw it as an affront to public decency and a mark of society's declining moral standards.

However, it also makes the point that the various avenues of human sexual behaviour are all well trodden by past generations. The products available and the behaviour depicted at New Zealand's first Erotica expo might be new to individuals but realistically they are unlikely to break new ground - it is only the manufacturing processes that have advanced.

Highlight the first weekend in August in your social calendar that is when New Zealand's first Erotica Adult Concepts and Lifestyle Expo is being held at the NZ Exhibition Centre in Greenlane, Auckland. Erotica is a public exhibition looking at all aspects of adult health, sexuality and lifestyle. The aim of the event is to provide adults with access to frank and accurate information about, and direct exposure to, a wide range of quality products and services.

Similar shows held elsewhere in the world have attracted enormous followings. For example the 1999 Melbourne Sexpo attracted over 70,000 visitors; 44% of whom were female. An exit pole revealed that visitors came from all walks of life and included a diverse range of adults, mostly between 25 and 55 years old.

This is an event that is not only about sex. The name Erotica is simply a marketing tool for an exhibition about anything to do with adult health, sexuality and lifestyle. Primarily, Erotica is about fun, especially responsible, safe fun. The event offers the perfect marketing venue for anyone who provides a service or product that an adult would be interested in.

As well as offering a broad range of exhibitors from a mineral water producer to adult shops, Erotica features an extravagant range of stage entertainment including strippers; foam wrestlers, fashions parades and a tattoo exhibition. The show even caters to the needs of rugby fans with the 3rd round of the Bledisloe Cup playing live on the expo massive 4m x 3m on stage screen wall from 2:30 pm on Saturday 5th August. What better way to see the game: and wait until you see the half time entertainment.

Erotica will also provide, for the first time in New Zealand, a forum for all groups associated with adult issues to inform the community of the role they play.

Simply speaking, Erotica will be the most talked about and fun public exhibition New Zealand has ever seen.

It is extraordinary that the sex industry is becoming so outrageously blatant!" Pastor Graham Lee of the Greenlane Christian Centre made the comment in regards to an adult concepts and lifestyle exposition to be held at the Logan Campbell Centre in Greenlane from August 4 to 6. The event called Erotica is the first and only adult expo to be held in NZ and is modelled on the successful SEXPO exhibitions held in Australia three times a year.

An R18 only show, Erotica will feature a lineup of 'so-called' celebrities including a Penthouse Pet from the United States and a porn star from Europe.

Challenge Weekly was told over the telephone by a woman called Gerda that although sales for the New Zealand event were initially slow, they have improved and there have been a number of enquiries from interested members of the public. She says that the exhibitions will include sex shops and massage parlours and there will also be live strip shows.

"We are hoping the event will become as popular as the Australian shows". The 1998 Melbourne SEXPO is reported to have attracted more than 62,000 visitors. The ticket sales page on Erotica's web site describes interest in the expo as having reached "frenzied proportions ...Erotica will have all sorts of exhibitors and the wildest stage shows ever held at a public expo in New Zealand... be prepared to be shocked".

A scandalised Mr Lee says that the event is a new moral low for the country. "This kind of thing used to be limited to back streets and hidden joints.

"We all know that massage parlours are just cover-ups for brothels and places of deviated sex practices".

Mr Lee, a former Member of Parliament and head of the Christian Democrats says he hopes that the event will be a financial loss and that it will be brought to the attention of Members of Parliament, as well as the mayor.

"We should expect the mayor who is supposed to be cleaning up Karangahape Rd to take a stand in this matter. We should also encourage people to boycott the Logan Campbell Centre and at the same time remind ourselves that Logan Campbell himself was an outstanding city father.

"He would be spinning in his grave if he knew about this".

Mr Lee says he wants to bring the event to the attention not only of the church but to all moral-minded people in the city - "This is a new attack on families and the values of society".

Paul Subritzky, the national director of Promise Keepers sees the increasing openness of the sex industry as yet a further attack on men and their families.

"The enemy is trying to capture the thoughts of men through events such as this in an area that they continue to struggle with. "The greatest evil of an exhibition such as this is that the lifestyle it promotes does not lead to fulfilment and satisfaction, but to guilt and shame".

Mr Subritzky says Christian men are just as susceptible to the temptations of the sex industry as men the world over.

"Promise Keepers teach effective biblical strategies that give men the ability to resist those temptations and puts in place safeguards that prevent men from treading down this dangerous path".

On how he feels about Promise Keepers holding their conference at the Logan Campbell Centre in October, Mr Subritzky's response is that, "the conterence provides an effective way to counter the negative effects of the Erotica exhibition by promoting standards of Christian living based on holiness and righteousness".

Denise Krum, the Vice President of Future NZ says for the sex industry to be moving from the backstreets of NZ to the showgrounds of Auckland is "utter nonsense. The small sector of society that enjoys the exploitation of women and children shouldn't be given any prominence whatsoever. "We've certainly hit an all-time low when we present such exhibitions and make them available to 18 year olds. It's one thing to lower the drinking age to 18 but it's another thing to give easy access to a sleazy menu of underground sexual deviations. This is not normal society".

Mrs Krum says there are many courses of action that people can take to prevent such events fron happening which include writing letters of complaint to the management of the centre, to the City Council and to the local MP for Epsom, Richard North. People can also write letters to the Editor and call radio talk shows.

"The stands range from adult entertain-ment-for example Australian Penthouse-lin-gerie, and urban street wear, all the wav through to strippers, tattooists and spa pools."

She says the expo is about more than just sex.

"It's about lifestyle," says Gibb. "People who visit know this is an R18 venue expo-it's not sleazy, we're trying to demystify the whole concept." Modelled on the "sexpo" and "erotica" ex-pos in Australia and England, Gibb says inter-est in the event has been amazing despite its controversial content.

"We're already pre-selling tickets," she says. And the expo definitely has a future. Gibb already has plans for next year's event.which is expected to be held in November.

Faces, not quite sure what expression to wear when confronted with huge dildos and strip shows, are masked with blank stares.

This is Erotica - over 50 stalls making up New Zealand's first "adult concepts and lifestyle expo."

The layout at the NZ Expo Centre in Greenlane. Auckland, is familiar to anyone used to lifestyle shows, but the products are more S&M than A&P. Organiser Fiona Gibb got the idea from Australia, where "sexpos" have been running for six years and now have marketing budgets of $A1 million ($1.27 million). She says it is part-business, part-crusade.

"I had a real passion to change people's perception about the adult industry. I've always thought adult services need to come out of the closet." Lap-dancing company Smooth Sexposure, however, is trying to get people into its closet - a pink booth where it offers three-minute dances for $10. "The girls haven't even crawled out of bed yet and people have been doing laps and coming back saying, `Is it open yet?', "says stall-holder Rachael Kirk.

The men are keen and it is men who make up the vast majority of the opening-day crowd.

"On the Friday, the men have taken time off work and snuck out," says PR officer Tracey Evington. "The girls come in on Saturday."

In Australia, over 40 per cent of sexpo visitors are women, and by lunchtime at Greenlane, more young couples are arriving. One pair are relieved to be shopping for adult products without having to sneak into "seedy little shops."

"You usually have to make sure no one is looking when you go in. But nothing here has been tacky," the man says, clutching a shopping bag. That's the aim, says Fiona Gibb. "Obviously we have got an R18 classification, but we've also got our own contract rules. None of the dancers can go filly nude. I don't think Mr and Mrs Suburbia needs to be faced with that in this sort of forum."

The people who rang wanting to know if they could come naked were told "No," says Tracey Evington.

"It's about awareness and demystification, but of course there is a marketing element to it.

"There's still an amount of taste there. There are certain criteria to be met," she says, waving at the porn stall-holder to lower the volume of the moans coming from his VCR.

The bigger shock for many will be the prices, rather than the products. Really, who is going to pay $450 for an inflatable bondage bed? Down the way, Michael, an Australian lingerie salesman, has added Auckland to the Sydney-Melbourne-Perth circuit. "It's better than Sydney, not as good as Perth," he says of business.

The more cosmopolitan the city, the less the interest in sexpos, perhaps. But if you doubt that sex sells, just ask the wine merchant, pasta-maker, knife-smith or hydroponic gardener, who are all doing a healthy trade.

Still, you have to ask what their products have to do with erotica.

"I guess for someone who is into knives, this is an extremely sexy stand," says a sellers.

"It's all part of the adult lifestyle," says the gardener. Very cryptic.

The man selling snazzy kitchen knives is puzzled, too. He is turning vegetables into slightly disturbing erotic shapes, but no one is paying any attention.

"What could be more erotic than a sexy salad," he cries in desperation. A massage parlour is doing better. The response to its $10 discount cards has been "great."

Back at the Sexposure stall, the dancers have arrived and Rachael Kirk has started a waiting list. "They're queuing up. It's an intrigue thing." That seems to be why most of the punters are there - "out of curiosity" or "just to have a look."

As one 19-year-old says: "You don't feel like a dirty old man as much."

Project Timor was scheduled to arrive in Timor Sunday, August 13, but was delayed a month because of transport shortage. To do your bit, pick up a copy of this week's Truth at this weekend's Erotica Expo for the special price of $2 and have it signed by Bree and Vivienne.

A $1 from every sale will go to Project Timor.

King is chuffed with the, girl's support and all the help Project Timor has been getting.

"And to get two international stars behind us is absolutely great," he says.

Auckland radio station Hauraki raised over $21,000 in pledges last week from a 12-hour telethon. And if you want to get your hands on the jerseys the gorgeous pair are wearing on our cover, be at the Erotica Expo when the All Blacks play Australia on Saturday.

Once the game is over, the Expo organisers will auction the girls signed jerseys.

"People are very shy about sex in NZ," Hungarian adult movie actress Vivienne, 22, told Sunday News. "Hopefully this will change their outlook." Up to 50 exhibitors showed their wares, from spa pool manufacturers to The Den, an Auckland adult concepts store.

"The most popular products we've sold are vibrators, PVC fetish ware and bondage equipment," said The Den own-er Adrian Jones.

Aucklander Donna Mitchell said she came for a look with her three girlfriends.

"I think it's great they've organised something like this," she said.

"New Zealanders aren't as conservative as they're made out to be."

Vivienne is in New Zealand as a special guest of Private Media Group to promote her company's products at Erotica 2000, the adult concepts and lifestyle expo. The curvaceous European will also determine how sexy Kiwi women are as a judge at the Miss Erotica pageant.

"The industry is well respected in Europe," says Vivienne. "I think it is only thought sleazy in less forward countries. This is the 21 st century - they should catch up."

Vivienne became involved in the porn industry as a 19-year-old student after being approached by a talent scout. With more women in senior positions within the industry, she says, products are changing for the better. "They have helped change a lot of things;' she says, "especially making products more accessible to girls and couples rather than just boys."

Set incongruously in the leafy, genteel suburb of Epsom/Greenlane (should that be Groinlane?) this broad daylight homage to the pleasures of the flesh lured, in its first opening hours, loads of men wearing anything from gym gear to suits and ties, including a few with women on their arms. According to carnal crusader Fiona Gibb, who organised the event, giant dildos, nipple spirals, naughty knickers, blow-up naked dolls, bondage gear and tools of prostitutes, perverts and nymphomaniacs. She says one of the primary motivations for Erotica is to have the euphemistically titled "adult industry" viewed in a new way, and aims to "lighten up" the whole business. An exhibition to confront those inhibitions.

"By bringing sex intothe light we are removing the dark shadows that have attached themselves & the adult industry." One of the slogans for Sexpo Australia - upon which she has based the Auckland expo - is "Lighten Up - Sex Is Fun."

There are more bright lights than red lights and dark shadows as the show-room heaves with a mostly male crowd viewing the sex toys and near-naked young nymphs dotted around the place.

There's something banal and bizarre about viewing all this erotic equipment in a garden or home show atmosphere.

Eroticism is surely a subjective thing, varying from one person's imagination to the next, but this show falls heavily on the Penthouse and Playboy mag' meaning of the word with bosoms, bottoms, black leather and lace as the icons of desire.

A vendor for Australasian "adult concept" store The Den says his wares are for ordinary folk looking to spice up their sex lives with an item of fetish clothing - shiny black leather lace-up corsets, red leather suits, G-strings, perilously high stilettos. There are more than 40 models of multi-coloured dildos as well as blow-up naked dolls, and vibrating sex toys, some of frightening size.

While many New Zealand stores selling similar goods still have a sleazy seventies attitude and style to them, The Den is decidedly more upmarket and accesbiuie, being located, after all, in Auckland's trendy shopping area of Newmarket, the spokes-man says.

ising the skills and thrills of a "femme fatale" mingle with less blatant means of arousal such as aphrodisiacally-scented cushions and massage oils to the highly entertaining "Orgasmatron" - a copper wire pronged head massage thingy that looks like a prop from Dr Who. At $20 a pop, it was one of the items that had sold out by the end of the weekend, according to Ms Gibb.

In another booth, a fully-dressed young guy looks as if he's being crushed to death under an avalanche of breasts belonging to six young women in nothing but white lace knickers who pose for nude photos for $10.

The erotic significance of sonic other stalls is harder to discern. Surrounded by a selection of fresh vegetables, tile man demonstrating a German brand of vegetable slicer is being cruelly ignored for more lurid sights. As are the wholesome looking chaps on the organic fertiliser stand. They jest that their link to lust is enabling people to grow the aphrodisiac herbs that lead to erotic adventures. No sign of anyone buying the huge sacks of worm castings, however ...

Y0U can get a tattoo, a sexy photo, have a lap dance, grab a free condom or come down from erotic nirvana with a pamphlet from Auckland Health Services on treating genital warts, herpes, chlamydia and numerous other sexual diseases.

Hovering over the 50 stalls is a luridrly lit stage with a huge screen behind for closeups of live performances, largely aimed at men who want the pages of Penthouse to come to life. To the mechanical throb of heavy metal muzak and the occasional puff of dry ice, a blond Hungarian stripper is flouncing around the stage simulating all kinds of sex acts. She is followed by an even sillier act - two naked women writhing around in what looks like a children's swimming pool engaging in a spot of "foam wrestling" but without any foam.

When asked about the lack of entertainment for women, Ms Gibb says there were some male strippers on the programme, as well as three women from a company called D-Vice demonstrating "funky" sex accessories for women.

By the end of the weekend, Ms Gibb says she is "thrilled" with the response to the event, which attracted about 16,000 people from Auckland and beyond.

That was three times more people - who paid $10 each to enter - than attended Perth's first sexpo, she says. She's planning another one next year with double the floor space for more stall-holders after a 98 per cent positive response from the 500 people surveyed. There are no current plans to go beyond Auckland.

The success of the event has vindicated her belief that mainstream New Zealand is ready for such raunchiness.

One of the key areas needing change is the terminology or language attached to the industry, she says.

"Negative connotations and language abounds in this industry. Words like sleaze and seedy. Images like dark glasses and trench coats.

"I want to see this industry treated with respect and the element of fun, liberty and freedom it deserves."

Ms Gibb has been attending overseas! adult trade shows and conferences for years. She felt compelled to bring the first one to New Zealand by modelling it on Australia's.

"New Zealand and Australia are closely related in terms of attitudes, culture and behaviour. After watching how powerfully the Australian sexpos have helped to demystify the adult sex industry, I believed it was important to do the same in New Zealand."

Yet sleaze is sleaze, whether seen in a red-light district or trade show. Erotica, it could be argued, is something more personal, elusive and imaginative than what the garish gear and bare-breasted bimbos Greenlane offered.

Included in the 16,000 were many couples and women, with the show exceeding the organisers wildest expectations. "It's utterly phenomenal," says Fiona Gibb. "It's so great to see this finally come to fruition."

Gibb organised the expo after seeing it in Australia a few years ago.

It featured a tattoo parlour, an erotic art exhibition, various - educational promotions and stands selling videos, sex aids, sexual potency potions.

At the private stands, fans had their photos taken with gorgeous Hungarian adult entertainer Vivienne.

And Australian Penthouse pet Bree (pictured at bottom with, from left, Truth sales manager John Cozens and reporters Marcus Forbes and MR POPULAR: Jamie Mclk Steve Hopkins), was on hand to sign copies of last weeks issue to raise money for Project Timor.

Comedian Mike King and a concert party go to Timor in September to cheer our troops up with some fine Kiwi entertainment. Continuous live entertainment provided a backdrop to the commercial concourse.

Adrian Jones, who had one of the biggest stalls with her adult concepts collection from The Den, whipped up a lot of interest with lashes, leather and rubber wear.

"Everyone's happy, it's gone really well," she says.

Susie Seymour, Bodybitz exhibitor and a judge for the Miss Erotica pageant, told Truth that the expo compared very well with those that have been held in Australia, where she now lives.

In fact, the weekend was both a breath of fresh air and a new and effective answer to relationship problems. "Forget counselling or therapists just go to Erotica," laughed Susie.

Susie returned to Auckland especially for the weekend extrava-ganza.

Many of the expo goers said Erotica had given the sex industry more respectability.

With stands already booked for next year's expo, Gibb says the show can only get bigger and better.

Organisers Fiona Gibb, partner Steve Crow, Matthew Sollis and tracey Evington envisaged an expo which would allow us to see "adult life" in broader terms than the mere red-light, see-through, vibrating, back-room video way we have traditionally done. Sure, the deshabillees were there... along with herbal pillows, leather jackets, gardeners, Orgazmatron head-massagers, T-shirts vendors, satin specialists, spa tubs, essences, tattooists and (how they fit in, I don't know) murderous hatchet-knives and bird-whistlers! The expo also included an erotic, though not prurient, art gallery.

And the punters came in their droves... 16,000 of them, in fact.

New Zealanders' desire for a more adventurous adult life may not be greater than what we think but it is greater than what we acknowledge. There were many pitfalls in presenting any first. When compared with the well-established Sydney counter-part, the Sexpo may have seemed somewhat tame lone of the tall-runners, however, described it as "wholesome"). There were many businesses which were reticent, and some quarters, such as the gay and lesbian community, who were downright noticeably absent. The NZ urban conservative attitude of "let others test the waters and then I might jump on the hand-wagon" was clear.

The event was launched on thursday, 3 August, with the Miss Erotica finals at the Powerstation. Amid a mosh-pit and swelling balcony of testosterone, the invited celebrity; Hungarian 'adult actress' Vivienne, opened up with her own erotic dance numbers, dragging an unsuspecting (and very cute) member - so to speak - of the audience on stage to aid her... even if he didn't rise to the occasion!

Each of the shows from the finalists was slick and very much a stage-performance, including the use of dance, gymnastics, yogaish body-origami, acrobatics, fire and... the inevitable phallic front-and-centre pole. Some were good performances, some were sheer show-pieces.

The Erotica Expo itself was chock-a-Hock almost all the time. A constant Stream of Aucklanders poured in, crammed and squeezed around and left with a variety of opinions. Most found it a positive experience.

Those who found it disappointing had all too rapidly forgotten the small but identifiable variety of divergent stalls and felt that "the shows weren't as good as some of the strip-clubs I've been to." It was public venue - they weren't supposed (or allowed) to be! They had gone with the aim of seeing the traditional 'seedier' side of the concept of 'adult life' and that's what they saw. Another stall runner, who has been to many of the Sydney expos, claimed that the lack of excessive nudity made the expo better. Still, since, according to an exit poll, only 1% of attendees said that they would never come back, this expo certainly ended up with presenting a positive image.

Fiona mentioned that the expo was so successful that virtually all of this year's contributors have booked up for next year. Matthew's comment was that the final couple of months flowed rennarkably easily.

The event was, capped with Innuendo, tile Erotica afterparty, also at the Powerstation, on Sunday night. Again Vivienne entertained the crowd (this time her audience member not only 'rose to the occasion' but rather flattering so!), along with Destiny, the winner of the Miss Erotica 2000 finals for the women some athletic guys from Showboys (who were even appreciated by the at first stand-offish guys in the audience); an unintentionally hilarious sexagenarian 'musician', Killer Ray quite a talented women's band, Growler; the Australian Penthouse May 2000 Pet of the Month, Bree Maddox; and numerous others.

Like it or not, approve of it or not, the evolving BIZ social and cosmopolitan climate is leading more people to look for a more adventurous adult life and this fledgling exhibition has done a lot to draw these desires out of the closets and into the limelight. Till next year!

But times and priorities change, and these breathless chatter-boxes, late at night on TV4, were not discussing the neighbours, or for that matter Doris Bonkers' famous date scones. The subject instead was sex. Erotic sex.

I learned about the joys of crotchless knickers. Amazed, I heard of a team of Wellington women who make "really unique" dildoes and a company that does a good line in whips and paddles. There was talk of "Penthouse Pets", porn stars and body bits. "We're bringing body bits into New Zealand!" squealed one. "It's a moulding kit! You can get your breasts done! You can get your butt done! You can put your hand in it! It immortalises those bits that are going to change... hahahaha!" gasped the other. She paused dramatically, "I did actually have a part of my body dipped in Australia." Good grief, what fresh hell was this? A sort of radio with pictures talkback show called Teletrader, it transpired. The ladies were promoting Erotica, an adult concepts and lifestyle exposition modelled on the successful SEXPO exhibitions held in Australia three times a year. The Aussies and the rest of the world have been doing this caper for years. It was a first for us.

Poll research from the 1999 Melbourne SEXPO revealed that of the 70,000 visitors, 44 per cent were female and 60 per cent were "part of a couple". In Auckland on that wet afternoon, if we have to make comparisons, the "part of a couple" far outnumbered the women, and wore damp anoraks, down-at-heel brothel creepers and that haunted look which blokes adopt when they've just been caught doing something disgusting, which is most of the time. Not a sight to savour.

Do any of these sorry arses really get laid? Probably not, and that is why The Den, transplanted from K' Road, attracted so much attention. Every Tom, Dick and train-spotter ogled the display cabinets of sex toys and accessories. And why not? Think about it. When the only thing that goes off in their permapress pants is a cellphone and they send a Valentines card to their hands each year, it makes perfect sense.

How could a lone wolf in cheap clothing resist the Island Babe Lovedoll? She comes in a box (I really should rephrase that) and "Hot Tropical Sex" is what she likes. "Erupt in my three loving passages. Ravage my voluptuous breasts. Run your fingers through my sandy blond hair." You are also instructed to "Strip off your grass skirt and take me hard!" It was hard not to burst out laughing.

Auckland's first attempt at setting the town's sheets on fire was bound to ruffle a few feathers. Sure enough, in the Challenge Weekly, a Christian newspaper "proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ", a scandalised Graham Lee, pastor, former member of Parliament and head of the Christian Democrats, stated in a piece headed "Sex Industry Becomes Outragiously [sic) Blatant" that Erotica is a new moral low for the country, an attack on families and the values of society. "This kind of thing used to be limited to backstreets and hidden joints. We all know that massage parlours are just cover-ups for brothels and places of deviated sex practices." Lee hoped Erotica would be a financial failure and earnestly encouraged his followers of the faith to boycott the venue, the Logan Campbell Centre, "and at the same time remind ourselves that Logan Campbell himself was an outstanding city father. He would be spinning in his grave if he knew about this."

If anyone stayed away in their droves it was the placard-waving protesters. There was hardly anything to protest about. Everything on display under glass or in the flesh could be purchased or drooled over in Fort Street or on K' Road any time of the day or night: strippers, lap dancers, bits of string and lace which passed for underwear, and leather hoods and floggers for those fun, intimate moments that send Wayne and Shirl straight into the tratosphere on a Saturday night after they've done the dishes.

How anyone kept a straight face at the Eef Jays stand was remarkable. A real mum, dad and the kid enterprise this. Dad in his jolly hand-knitted red beanie with a nodding pom-pom and Swanndri, looked as though he had just crawled out of the bush. The kid, the wrong side of 40, had still not mastered the art of a successful comb-over, and Mum bore an alarming resemblance to Patricia Bartlett, the former nun who was the scourge of the sex trade three decades ago. This trio's line of business was dildoes and back issues of Hustler magazine.

Other adult lifestyle choices abounded. One stallholder sold Swiss vegetable peelers. Another put Der Dicke through its paces (Der Dicke is a German carrot grater). A company called Good Look sold lubricants - for shoes. A man armed with a dinky little machine churned out pasta. Imagine getting caught writhing and aked under the duvet with one of those! Or bags of worm castings (batteries not included) from the hydroponics stand? A native bird whistle for $3?

If these are the tough R18 decisions made by responsible grownups in this country then we are in real trouble. At this rate we will never become the Amsterdam of the South Seas. Paul Subritzsky will be pleased. The national director of the Promise Keepers echoed Pastor Lee's fears in the Challenge Weekly. "The enemy is trying to capture the thoughts of men through events such as this in an area that they continue to struggle with." Christian men, he told us, are just as susceptible to the temptations of the sex industry as men the world over - hardly surprising when it is a scientifically proven fact that blokes think about bonking their brains out every few seconds.

In a deeply ironic twist, the Promise Keepers are holding their conference at the same venue this month. By this Subritzsky is untroubled. "The conference provides an effective way to counter the negative effects of the Erotica exhibition by promoting standards of Christian living based on holiness and righteousness."

And, may I suggest, a team of commercial cleaners armed with ammonia, scrubbing brushes and an industrial-strength waterhlaster.

With a real passion to change people's perceptions about the adult industry, the couple started planning Erotica two years ago, after visiting Australia's successful Sexpo exhibitions - on which Erotica is modelled.

"New Zealand and Australia are closely related in terms of attitudes, culture and behaviour," says Fiona. "After watching how powerfully the Australian Sexpos have helped demystify the adult sex industry - we believed it was important to do the same in New Zealand. "By bringing sex into the light we are removing the dark shadows that have attached themselves to the adult industry." However, Fiona says Erotica was slightly tamer and more 'wholesome' than Sexpo and targeted a wider lifestyle base of exhibitors. "Erotica was not only about sex. "The aim of the event was to provide adults with access to frank, accurate information and direct exposure to a wide range of quality products and services looking at all aspects of adult health, sexuality and lifestyle. "For example, our exhibitor base included retailers of spa pools, DVD technology, lingerie, art, jewellery, aromatherapy products and adult products as well as service providers like tattooists, body piercers, skin care advisors, Glamour photography studios and a qualified doctor and physiotherapist.

"So there were a huge number of exhibitors who used this expo to market their products in a more fun way. "Let's face it, everybody uses sex to sell and these exhibitors could do that unashamedly without offending anybody."

Fiona and Steve say the exhibition attracted 16,200 visitors to the Greenland Expo Centre, 45 per cent of whom were women. They believe it's hard enough to get sponsorship for a mainstream expo, let alone an expo that has never been done before and is of a risque nature which makes some people uncomfortable:

"So it was fantastic that Radio Hauraki got behind us in a huge way and gave us their support. "They were willing early in the piece to put their name and logo alongside ours, whereas a lot of other companies were going: 'Mmm I'd rather wait'," enthuses Fiona. "There was a lot of fun involved working with the station.

"We went to functions together and they took part judging the Miss Erotica pageant. "When we took Vivienne, the adult actress, into the studio for an interview, the DJs were a real giggle to deal with and made us all relax instantly.

"They also handled it with a huge amount of professionalism. It's so easy in the adult industry for people, especially men, to come across as sleazy," she says. "Radio Hauraki - and Account Manager Todd Andrews - really put themselves on the line for us. "Everything they said they were going to do, they did and more. "They gave us a lot of extra plugs on the radio and we're now inundated with people who want to be involved next year. The 2001 Erotica is scheduled for November 8-11 at the Greenlane Expo Centre and adjoining Logan Campbell Centre and hall.