Gang of boozing Santas rampages in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — 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, 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. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff members, Hegarty said. The remaining Santas entered a downtown convenience store and carried off beer and soft drinks.

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

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