New Zealand- 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 attended 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 be 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.