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December 19, 2005

Bad Santas

Ho fucking HoHoliday cheer, New Zealand style:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand Dec 17, 2005 — A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged through New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores and assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.

The rampage, dubbed "Santarchy" by local newspapers, began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass, said Auckland Central Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty.

She said the men then rushed through a central city park, overturning garbage containers, throwing bottles at passing cars and spraying graffiti on buildings.

One man climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship before being ordered down by the captain. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff, Hegarty said.

The remaining Santas entered a downtown convenience store and carried off beer and soft drinks.

"They came in, said 'Merry Christmas' and then helped themselves," store owner Changa Manakynda said.

Alex Dyer, a spokesman for the group, said Santarchy was a worldwide movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas.

Three people were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly behavior.

Drunken hooligan brawl as political protest.

Yeah, right. That's the ticket.

Guess NZ is just catching up after 40 years to the US where a lot of Leftist/anti-Vietnam/pro-feminist/peace protesters were in it for the sex, drugs and rock-n-roll.

(h/t commenter Wishbone @ PW)

Posted by Darleen at December 19, 2005 08:14 AM

Comments

Well, the All Blacks had not played so we can't blame it on either their winning or losing. ;)

Posted by: J Rob at December 21, 2005 07:41 AM