FREE BEACH News

May - June 1994

FREE BEACH GROUP Inc

PO Box 41-171   St LUKES   AUCKLAND 3

Bylaw Challenge

The Free Beach Group has decided to challenge the North Shore City Council Bylaw which states:

No person over the age of 12 years shall be on or remain upon any part of any beach or beach reserve while their pubic areas are exposed to the view of other persons.

At the 1993 AGM, members voted unanimously in favour of a resolution instructing the Committee to investigate means of over-turning the North Shore City Council bylaw, and authorised $1000 to be set aside to finance such action.

The Committee has now completed its investigations, and has commissioned a well known and respected Barrister, Mr Barry Wilson of the Council for Civil Liberties, to provide us with a Legal Opinion. Mr Wilson will also assist the Free Beach Group present the opinion to the Council.

The preparation of a legal opinion involves an extensive and detailed search of relevant Laws, Acts, and Court Decisions.

With the Legal Opinion, the Ceramalus Appeal Decision, and in light of the recent police decision to withdraw charges against a Free Beach Group member who was nude at Fitzpatrick Bay, it is confidently expected that it can be demonstrated that the Bylaw is illegal.

Our action against North Shore City Council should benefit members everywhere. Repeal of the bylaw should be a signal to other local authorities which may be considering the introduction of oppressive bylaws which attempt to interfere with our legitimate right to nude recreation.

The cost of our challenge is approximately $1300.

To meet this cost, we are inviting members to make donations to our Bylaw Repeal Fund. Donations will be recognised in the Newsletter, unless otherwise requested.

This is an important step in achieving and maintaining the objectives of the Free Beach Group.

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1994

Page 2

Auckland Report

Once again the Easter period witnessed a gathering of FBG members at the DoC Uretiti Beach Reserve. The weather played it's usual tricks for the time of year but on the whole one could not complain!

At times there were up to thirty naturists enjoying the sunshine and the clear but not so warm sea, the fishing was pretty poor but a good time was had by all.

All FBG members are welcome to attend the Hibiscus Coast Hot Pool Night held at 'PALM SPRINGS', Parakai, near Helensville. Do not forget to bring your FBG membership card with you as the nights are organised by the Hibiscus Coast Sun Club. Times are 6pm to midnight on the last Saturday of the month, charges are Adults, $8.00, Children, $2.00. The complex has three pools, three spa-pools with takeaways available on site. Enter these dates in your diary, May 28, June 25, July 30, and we will see you there!! For those of you who enjoy caravanning there is a good camp ground virtually opposite the pool complex - a number of FBG members regularly stay overnight.

Bob Williamson

Dear Traven

Thank you for your letter reminding me to renew my FBG subscription. I had decided to let it lapse, but after receiving your letter, decided to give it another go.

You expressed interest in why members chose to drift away. Briefly, I really became a member only to support a group which seemed interested in working to protect my rights to be naked in appropriate circumstances when I want to be. I had no interest in the social aspects of the group, having been badly frightened by a visit to a nudist club many years ago. The spectacle of all those people driving miles into the country to take their clothes off and then having to invent ludicrous games to while away the time was appalling. My garden and the beaches and rivers suit me and my occasional partners fine, thanks.

However, after some time I took a little interest in some of the activities mentioned in the newsletter. First problem was that none of them happened anywhere near where I live. So I took advantage of a few occasions when I was in Auckland and visited a couple of beaches which had been nominated as open days, and went to Alladins' sauna twice.

Next problem was that I am a fifty-year old single man. I've been divorced for years, and prefer to stay away. Unfortunately, although it's OK to be single with my clothes on I'm apparently a social pariah when I undress. I'm not homosexual, I'm totally comfortable in nude company and I'm pretty quiet, but found myself definitely on the sidelines.

Since my social life is very full (ie I'm not desperately seeking things to do) I simply gave up going, without any strain. That was several years ago, so when your routine subscription reminder arrived a month ago I decided to let it lapse, since I wasn't gaining anything from it.

Your letter has reminded me of my original reason for joining, which was to contribute to the maintenance of a free society rather than to personally gain from membership, so I enclose my new subscription.

Kind regards

(The name of the writer has not been included for obvious reasons, Editor)

Death Knell?

The object of the FBG generally is to get nudity accepted on the beaches etc. The latest newsletter is headlined "Nude is Legal". This surely is the death knell of the FBG. The vision of the founder members was that this is the time to close the Group. The objectives have been met. Instead we are having regimented hierarchy typical of Capital or Head Office bureaucracy* set up to make things as complicated as possible. In fact a typical example of Parkinson's Laws in action. It has never worked efficiently in any other organisation. Why should it work now?

Whatever happened to the simple FBG set up any member could understand? The new set up will require someone to have had experience with complex set ups to be on the Committee.

* This is the old argument Government v. Private Industry. It is difficult for someone inside the system to look at it from the outside and vice-versa. No personalities here.

John Riggir

Less-ons and More-ons

Being clothes-optional is a "less-on"; and to be a clothes-compulsive is to be a "more-on".

Mark Schroeder, NUDE & NATURAL

FREE BEACH   News

This Newsletter has been compiled from information supplied by members. If you have any topics of interest to share with others, or if you have any ideas or concerns, now is your opportunity to express them.

Contributions may be sent to the official address, or direct to the Editor,

John Groombridge, PO Box 30-099, LOWER HUTT

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1994

Page 3

New Magazine Coming Soon

In the last newsletter there was a brief article by Jackie Caldwell saying that a new naturist magazine might be launched in New Zealand later this year.

That 'might' is about to become 'will'. For competitive reasons I cannot give much detail at the moment, but I can say that the new magazine will be a monthly, it will have more pages than the old one, and will be slightly cheaper ($4.50). It will be available in the shops, or on annual subscription ($54 including GST & postage.)

My credentials for the task: I have been a naturist since the 1960s, and a professional journalist since 1986. I have won two journalism awards, and have been published in a number of magazines and newspapers both here and in Australia, including the NZ Herald, The Dominion, and Management. I am also a photographer, and was once a film cameraman with TVNZ. And I was the channel through which the legality of simple nakedness was established in the High Court in 1991, thus proving the lawful place of naturism in New Zealand.

The new magazine will be a highly professional product, which will give our splendid philosophy an equally splendid image (not one that is dragged down to the gutter by shots of dolly-birds and painted, peep-hole bikinis). It will be packed with articles, stories and news that are interesting, informative and entertaining. It will be unlike any naturist publication you have ever seen before: world-class, and thoroughly New Zealand.

Nobilangelo Ceramalus

P.S. Good, truly naturist, photographs are needed - as are people of all ages who are willing to be photographic subjects. Please get in touch if you can supply either images or bodies.

And if you can write well, you are welcome to send articles for consideration. They should be typed or computer-printed (double-spaced), or in the form of an ASCII file on a 3.5', IBM-format, 720 or 360K floppy disk.

P.P.S. If you want to help support the new magazine financially, you are welcome to send a donation (please enclose an SAE for the receipt). Every little will help with the substantial cost of getting it off the ground.

Contact: Nobilangelo Ceramalus,

3Caram Place,

Birkenhead,

North Shore 1310.

Telephone: (09) 483-5428

In Pursuit of an Ideal

Nudity may be legal, but this battle was won a long time ago, back in 1981, when the Summary Offences Act was passed. The Free Beach Group has subsequently changed its objective, which initially was to promote the establishment of "Free Beaches"; it recognised that legal nudity in no way meant that the attitude of the public would change over night, in response to the law. Our new aim, therefore, became that of making nudity on beaches socially acceptable, to bring it into line with the law that made it legally acceptable.

Twelve years later, the police are still having problems interpreting the law, and it has taken a couple of court judgements to clarify the situation. This, of course, has attracted public attention, so that the legal protection of nudists' rights is becoming common knowledge. But we are far from the general social acceptance that must go with that, in order to fulfil our ideal of beaches being "clothing-optional", with clothed and unclothed people enjoying the out doors together in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect.

The current aim of the Free Beach Group is to "promote, encourage and support the practice of recreational nudity in public places when appropriate and desirable". There is a lot of work to be done in this area before we can be satisfied that all those who would like to go nude at the beach, feel that they can freely, and safely, do so.

Jackie Caldwell

ROTOTA

Over the Easter holidays, starting on Good Friday, a contingent of more than 20 Wellington members descended on the Rotota Sun Club (much to the delight of the locals).

We enjoyed the well known sights and the experience of this magic place. The relaxing hot creek, the lake, the steam vent fumaroles, the incredible river lined with glow worms, not to mention the local hospitality and the famous card school on the rainy night.

It was great to have new members Jenny and Andrew with us at Rotota for the first time.

Our "Fred Bear' flag proved its worth when a Rototarian handed one back to us after finding it on the road.

Meryl Baker

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1994

Page 4

Back to the Future

There has been a suggestion that the Free Beach Group has achieved its objectives and should be wound up. I wonder if this was what the founders of the Group visualised?

A few years ago, the Naturist printed an article written in 1978 by Robin Hoare, our first President. It is interesting to look back on his words from time to time, if only to appreciate the broad vision which accompanied the founding of the Group. The impetus for establishing legal "free beaches" came to a halt with the passing of the Summary Offences Act in 1981, and the focus of the Group shifted to increasing public acceptance of beach nudity.

The ultimate vision, as stated by Robin Hoare, was for the Free Beach Group to become a "federation of local groups", with the clerical work being handled by a central committee. This hardly sounds like a prescription for disbanding, it is in fact, exactly what we have now.

As with many other organisations, the simple set-up we have had, has now moved to the suburbs, or for FBG, the 'regions', where members are having lots of fun running their own local groups. The advantage of this set-up is that all those jobs that nobody wants to do, have been taken away, to be done by the National Committee. How could this be better?

Jackie Caldwell

Naturist Life

       and the Prometheus Foundation

Recently I was contacted by John Lowe about being a guarantor to the Prometheus Foundation for Nobilangelo's expected launch of a new magazine "Naturist Life". I was both intrigued and disturbed by his phone call and I wanted more details. This was followed up by a letter from Nobilangelo outlining the content of his new venture, and thanking me "for pledging to be a guarantor for $200?".

This follow-up material sent by Nobilangelo assumed that I was interested in being a guarantor, and I was somewhat disturbed that presumptions had been made. However, I did receive a letter of apology from John Lowe for the hasty "hard sell" request with an explanation that a deadline to the Prometheus Foundation needed to be met.

To settle the matter, I will not entertain such a commitment and I advise other FBG members in the Wellington region to be wary of these "hard sell" tactics for launching new products which may be of benefit to us.

I question the use of the Free Beach Group membership database in seeking points of contact for such ventures, and I question Nobilangelos' and his supporters' methods in launching this product, and his use of the Free Beach Group membership list as a sponsorship vehicle. It people want to be a financial guarantor, it is on their own back and not as part of the Free Beach Group. The FBG code of conduct does not endorse such activities, but if Nobilangelo or his supporters incognito want to pursue and seek guarantors, then a better and gentler approach of communications should be used.

Simon Powell

Whilst the Free Beach Group welcomes and congratulates Nobilangelo's enterprise in launching a new naturist magazine, the Free Beach Group is in no way connected with the venture.

The Free Beach Group membership database is private and confidential and is for the sole use of the National Committee to communicate with members (eg: newsletters, etc); its use for any other purpose is strictly forbidden.

The use of my name on any material relating to the, magazine has not been authorised by me, and is not intended to be an endorsement of the venture.

I have no doubt that Nobilangelo is sincere in his efforts to produce a high quality magazine, it is unfortunate that some feathers have been ruffled on the way.

Traven Searle

Breaker Bay

The latest "NZ Naturist" magazine published a letter from a correspondent named "Frank". I have written a somewhat blunt and forthright reply to the "Naturist" about the misleading and inaccurate claims about Breaker Bay.

It is a pity that it will be a further two months before the reply will be published. Meantime readers, who may be unaware of the true situation at Breaker Bay (and also of Frank's conduct on the beach), will be mislead by the statements he has made.

Extracts from my letter:

It is hardly surprising that "Frank" is pestered by voyeurs wanting a closer look. If he is providing the attraction he shouldn't complain when people stop and take a look

Personally, I think "Frank's" decision to quit the beach has a lot to do with the fact that at this time of the year you very seldom get anybody on the beach anyway. ... Or is it something to do with what the police have said to him?

Should he stay away from the beach next season, the moral tone (of the beach) will most definitely improve.

Brian Tindall

The "Frank" referred to in the adjacent letter and the author of a letter in the recent issue of the Naturist" is not, and has not been a member of the Free Beach Group.       Editor

DEADLINE   for   the   next   FREE   BEACH   News   will   be   15   June,   1994

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1994

Page 5

For the Record(s)

Congratulations on a very good newsletter, however the factuality of some of the contents is questionable. Despite the disclaimer the Committee is obliged to ensure that statements made are factual. The new Committee is only too keen to print snide comments on the actions or inactions of the previous Committee without bothering to check facts.

Members will recall a short paragraph in the March/April newsletter photos from last year's photo competition (yes we had one, some of you were there). A short phone call or note would soon have clarified this matter and avoided the misleading statement in the last newsletter. Perhaps it makes it look like the previous Committee is withholding information. We most definitely are not. We have not been asked for any information. Photos entered for competition cannot be copied or published without written permission of the owner and the model(s) - including where they can be published - and are returned immediately after the competition. it was implied verbally that the competition may not have been held. Three Wellington members were present on the day - the results were announced to the members present and in the first newsletter.

We could give other examples. It appears that the present Committee did not read the newsletter. The winners are still waiting for the prizes to be paid out. This is normally the responsibility of the new Committee.

A very serious matter came up in a recent call we made to the new Committee. The Secretary has not received the Minutes of the August AGM, the October AGM and the October EGM. The photo competition information was also missing. The August AGM Minutes should be in the Secretary's files which were collected by Jackie Caldwell on 3-10-93. The October AGM and EGM Minutes were posted to the then President Frank Peek a few days latter. As always we received no acknowledgement but presumed all was well. We are concerned that selected records sent separate ways have gone missing. Fortunately we had kept copies of these important documents so they have been duplicated. We would appreciate receiving written acknowledgement of their receipt.

Your President needs to get to the bottom of this.

When a new Committee takes over it is usual from time to time for the retiring members to brief their successors as needed. The new Committee has never requested to be briefed on anything although we have supplied information voluntarily. Either (1) we have a brilliant new Committee or (2) the records were so easy to follow and up to date due to the work of a brilliant old Committee or (3) someone is doing their best to discredit the old Committee. This last is not in the interests of the Group. We hope that proper investigations will clear up all outstanding matters.

Finally when the President does get to the bottom of these matters, the matter should be fully reported in the newsletter.

John * and Fran Riggir

* John is our Immediate past President

(Highlighted items as per original)

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I have included John's comments in full, even though I do not accept some of his claims. I am content to leave it to readers to decide.

Editor

Reluctant Response

I am reluctant to be drawn into a public debate of this nature in the newsletter, as I believe that the Group has more important issues on which to concentrate our energies.

I have checked John's concerns about the missing AGM/EGM Minutes, and I can say that there were no Minutes included with any of the material sent to Frank Peek as claimed. In fact, the first copy of the elusive Minutes was those found in a box of items delivered to the Ngatuhoa gate by Jim Peddieson, Wednesday, 26 January, 1994. It is fortunate that John and Fran also had a spare copy available as a backup.

Previous Committees have maintained good records of the Group's affairs, and these have provided me with a sound basis from which to carry out my tasks as Secretary and Acting President. This documentation reduced my need to bother John and Fran about details.

My only disappointment with the previous Committee, is that it did not ensure that the Treasurer completed his obligation to the Group to submit a completed Financial Report for the period. However, now that we have received the necessary documents to carry out the reconciliation (3 April, 1994), we hope to be able present the 1992/93 Accounts in the next newsletter.

And now it's time to move on.

Traven Searle

Acting President

Law notes

Enclosed with this newsletter is an extract from the Police magazine "Ten-one", 28 February, 1992, which sets out the legal situation with respect to public nudity.

On the reverse side we have added the Free Beach Group Mission and our Beach Etiquette for your guidance.

It is suggested that members consider getting their copy laminated at the local stationary shop, and carry it with them when they go to the beach.

If you encounter any problems on the beach, you should record the details and report your experience to your Regional Committee, or direct to the National Committee.

FREE BEACH   News

Page 6

Dear Traven

My boyfriend and I have been interested in the naturist movement for a long time now. With my boyfriend first becoming a member seven years ago, and I applying for membership for the first time today.

It's fantastic, on a hot day to experience the sensation of swimming without constrictions at a beach, to dry off in the sun and feel the suns rays entirely without the cold, clammy, clinging feeling of a wet bathing suit. To have a bite to eat, a game of volleyball and basically have a heap of fun at the beach.

This would be fantastic, except for a slight dilemma, yes, that's right, you guessed it, the horrible sad truth ... where do we go?

Such misery it is to be presented with a beautiful day, the desire to make the best of it and the realisation of not knowing of any nudist beaches in Canterbury.

Please help us, we would love as much information on the Free Beach Group as possible. Beaches available to us, how to become a member. Our enquiring minds would like to know, so our enquiring bodies can enjoy the sun.

Annmarie Dennis

Peka Peka Beach Subdivision Halted

Wellington Region FBG members should be grateful to environmental and other community groups for their efforts in saving one of our most popular nudist beaches from development.

The Planning Tribunal recently upheld four appeals against a Kapiti Coast District Council decision to approve a large coastal subdivision at the end of Te Hapua Road, Peka Peka North. The proposed development would have substantially affected the very area which FBG members (and other nudists) have traditionally used for many years.

If the subdivision had proceeded it would probably have meant that our members would have had to abandon the area and seek another venue a considerable distance further north towards Te Horo.

The 31.4ha subdivision was disallowed on four counts:

1. It would involve substantial disturbance to the land-form of the dunes, and risk further unintended change;
2. It was a speculative subdivision, with no purchases of the proposed lots identified;
3. It would have been contrary to the policies and rules of the transitory district plan and would be irreconcilable with the draft regional policy statement, the Kapiti Coast District Council's strategic planning statement, and its proposed scheme change 64A.

Change 64A would make subdivision of the coastal environment a discretionary activity.

In reporting the outcome of the appeals, the Evening Post said the Tribunal's decision was being hailed as a huge slap in the face for irrational planning processes. Kapiti Environmental Action (KEA) (of which I am a member) claimed the Te Hapua decision as a major environmental victory. It believed that if the subdivision had proceeded it would have inevitably led to rapid residential development throughout what remains of the districts fragile coastal environment and much of its remaining rural land.

The protection of our coastal heritage, and our rivers, lakes and bush areas from unnecessary development should be of vital concern to all members and demonstrates the type of issues in which our organisation should be prepared to support and to become involved.

From personal knowledge of the work that KEA members undertook to research, prepare and present their appeal it is not an easy task to pursue such a course of action. Never-the-less if we are to be worthy of the aims of our organisation, I believe we must be willing to take up environmental and other issues which affect our interests as promoters of clothing-optional recreation.

Geoff Horn

Fronting up to the Public

Having some form of probationary period was discussed at the Forum held at Ngatuhoa. The consensus of opinion was against the idea. The National Committee has adopted a proposal to record the date of joining on our membership cards. This will identify new members and recognise long-standing members.

The Free Beach Group differs from sun clubs, in that when the Group was formed, no provision was made for a probationary period for new members. No doubt the rule relating to discipline was seen as adequate for dealing with any problems that could arise, and twenty years' experience has borne this out.

Why does the Free Beach Group differ in this respect from sun clubs? The difference is that we meet in public places, where our behaviour is subject to, and governed by, the constraints of public acceptance. Whatever we do, must be appropriate to the situation, acceptable to those around us, and totally within the law. As one of our members was heard to say: "We're all on probation, all the time."

Jackie Caldwell

Wellington NEWS

May - June, 1994

MENSANA Health Club & Sauna

As those members who use the "Atlantis" sauna in Karori will no longer be aware, Wally's future and the future of the sauna is now in some doubt.

In an effort to find a clean, friendly, reasonably priced alternative, 3 committee members visited the "Mensana" which is situated in Tory Street, Wellington.

Mensana is very pleasant, with flexible hours; they have offered us a (ten or more) discount to holders of a current Free Beach Membership Card, and who bring their own towel(s). The normal price is $12.50 but with the discount, is only $9.00. They have food, drinks etc. Possible group times are Saturday or Sunday, with Saturday afternoon seeming to suit most we have spoken to. Friday night is men only with Tuesday being women only. The normal hours are between 1.00 - 9.00pm

Please refer to the calendar for dates, remember to bring your Membership card and towel, if in doubt, contact Meryl or Rick at (04) 528-7010.

Linda, Meryl, Rick

TASMAN BEACH

On the 27th March 1 dozen or more people enjoyed themselves at Tasman Beach.

We followed the directions in the Free Beaches Guide. Just as we were about to cross the stream we saw our Flag nearly 1km away so we knew where everyone was. As we got closer, we could see two or more flags. So the flags are proving their worth as how to find our members on a beach which is unknown to some.

Linda

FROM THE COMMITTEE

Wellington's Monthly swim nights have commenced! Same story as previous years; The Cannons Creek indoor pool is taken over by the Wellington contingent of the Free Beach Group at 6pm on the second Sunday of the month and is ours until 8pm with barbecues available until 7:30pm. At this stage the charges are $3 per adult FBG member, $3.50 per adult non-member, $1 surcharge for children accompanying adults regard less of number. The City Council still has to confirm this years hire charges, they meet after we start using the pool, so "watch this space" just in case.

Do you have problems with people using the local naturist beaches for unusual activity and thus attracting attention? Have you read the letter from "Frank" in the latest Naturist? (We are replying to this letter, the national committee are also forwarding a reply). The beach abusers destroy our beaches in three ways; their activities chase bona-fide beach users away, they attract voyeurs that chase bona-fide beach users away, and then their complaints about the voyeurs they attract put people off trying naturism and justify the criticisms of those that want to stop us. Yes we have to act on the voyeurs and sand-dune men but we also have to guard against those who misuse the beaches as they are just the other side of the anti-naturist lobby. The anti-naturist lobby want us banned because they believe we are immoral, the beach abuses use our beaches because they believe we are immoral and will accept behaviour that is indecent.

Good news to finish. Wellington is still enjoying it's beaches and are looking forward to an active winter.

Trevor

SUGGESTIONS PLEASE

One of the jobs of the local committee is to organise social gatherings etc in its local region. Although I cannot comment on the success of other committees in this area, the Wellington committee has trouble involving Wairarapa, Manawatu and Horowhenua members in its activities. Are we choosing the wrong beaches, times etc. Maybe suggestions to the committee or local contact will help us involve more members next summer.

Alan