This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8427624.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Naked biking allowed, with helmet | Naked biking allowed, with helmet |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two young men caught cycling with no clothes on have escaped charges of offensive behaviour, but received a warning to wear protective headgear. | Two young men caught cycling with no clothes on have escaped charges of offensive behaviour, but received a warning to wear protective headgear. |
Local policewoman Cathy Duder was unfazed when she came across the two nude men, both in their early 20s. | |
"They were more shocked than I was, trying to cover up their bits and pieces with their hands," she said. | "They were more shocked than I was, trying to cover up their bits and pieces with their hands," she said. |
The men were riding around the Coromandel seaside resort of Whangamata on the north-east coast of New Zealand. | The men were riding around the Coromandel seaside resort of Whangamata on the north-east coast of New Zealand. |
When asked for an explanation, the pair replied that "they wanted to experience total freedom". | When asked for an explanation, the pair replied that "they wanted to experience total freedom". |
Strangely sober | Strangely sober |
"And I said to them 'the way you're heading, you're going to experience total confinement'," the officer said, laughing. | "And I said to them 'the way you're heading, you're going to experience total confinement'," the officer said, laughing. |
She said the men appeared decidedly sober. | She said the men appeared decidedly sober. |
"They didn't seem drunk at all. That's what worried me," she joked. | "They didn't seem drunk at all. That's what worried me," she joked. |
Ms Duder issued them with a stern warning for not wearing helmets and then sent them directly home. | Ms Duder issued them with a stern warning for not wearing helmets and then sent them directly home. |
She told the Associated Press news agency that she did not see them again during her shift, and it was not known if they donned helmets and resumed their ride. | She told the Associated Press news agency that she did not see them again during her shift, and it was not known if they donned helmets and resumed their ride. |
Public nudity can attract a charge of offensive behaviour in New Zealand, but Ms Duder said she let the two men go free. | Public nudity can attract a charge of offensive behaviour in New Zealand, but Ms Duder said she let the two men go free. |
"It was dark and there was no-one else around. They were jovial young men who had not intended to cause offence," she said. | "It was dark and there was no-one else around. They were jovial young men who had not intended to cause offence," she said. |