Aucklanders march to 'Free the Nipple'

The march gathered a few more supporters in its walk down Queen Street in Auckland. Photo / Doug Sherring

A handful of topless people have gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square in a statement against "gender inequality".

Organiser Jenelle Chitty,19, said it was about starting the conversation.

The MIT student and a handful of other supporters gathered in the square just after midday, tops stripped and holding banners that read "free the nipple" and "equality".

After gathering, the group walked to the viaduct.

"I know a lot of women who struggle with these issues," Chitty said. "Things like controlling husbands, being made to stay home instead of working."

She said although many thought these things no longer happened, the reality was they still did.

"I want to encourage women not to feel so self-conscious. I want them not to feel like they have to sexualise themselves."

Marcher Tim said he was there to show support for his women friends.

He didn't think it was fair he could walk topless yet women couldn't.

Tim had come on the march as a challenge to society to normalise the image of women and their breasts.

"I feel for them [female friends] that they are held up to a weird, arbitrary standard of dress."

A couple and their 2-week-old baby were part of today's stand for equality.

First-time parents George Page and Aiwa Poeamorn stood in the middle of the group behind the banners with 2-month-old son Chon.

"I just don't really see what the big deal about a nipple is," said Page.

As Poeamorn attached her son to her breast for a feed, she said it was about making breastfeeding mums feel safe.

"It is important women can breastfeed in public without feeling ashamed."

Today's march is part of a global equality movement focused upon the double standards regarding the censorship of female breasts, started by activist and filmmaker Lina Esco.

Despite the small numbers who turned out Miss Chitty said she couldn't have been happier with how it turned out.

"I've got a real buzz," she said towards the end of the march.

"Even people on the street aren't reacting too badly."

The march gathered a few more supporters in its walk down Queen Street, as well as a few interested onlookers, shout outs and a few puzzled questions and comments.