Controversial city billboard goes walkabout

By JODY O'CALLAGHAN - Manawatu Standard | Wednesday, 10 October 2007

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.