FREE BEACH News

May - June 1995

Free Beach Group Inc

PO Box 41-171   St LUKES   AUCKLAND 3

Nominations

Now is the time to send in nominations for the National Committee for the 1995/96 year. The election will be by postal voting as resolved at the 1994 Annual General Meeting.

The National Committee consists the following positions:

President

Vice President, Nth Island

Vice President, Sth Island

Secretary

Treasurer

and four Committee members.

Nominations must be in writing, clearly stating the position, the name of the nominated person, the nominator, and the seconder, plus the signatures of all three named.

To avoid confusion, names should be written in block letters and include first and last names (and locality). Nominations must be received by the Secretary by 10 June, 1995, and will be publish in the July/August newsletter.

It is desirable that membership of the National Committee be spread throughout NZ, and that the main regions are represented. Most committee business is carried out by correspondence with regular circulars. Working "bees" take care of administrative chores.

The 1994/95 National Committee is listed on the front page of this newsletter. It is understood that most of the current members will available for nomination for another term, so it can't be too bad.

If you are not happy with the direction of the Free Beach Group, now is your opportunity to exercise your democratic rights.

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1995

Page 2

Tararua

What relevance has a glossy, beautifully illustrated book about the renowned mountain spine of the southern North Island Te Upoko 0 te-Ika-a-Maui (the head of the fish of Maui, ie the Wellington region) to members of our organisation whose primary interest is clothes-free beach recreation?

The Free Beach Group Directory indicates there are many members whose nudists pursuits do not solely focus on beaches. In fact many include in their list of interests bush walking, tramping, climbing and other allied activities. Indeed, a couple of years ago at least two of our members made the first recorded nude ascent of Mt Taranaki. This was followed by attempts to organise nude tramps in suitable areas of our lavishly beautiful land. I can also personally vouch for a nude climb of Mt Mathews in the Orongaronga Range by a couple of us more adventurous types! And even to the top of Kapiti Island. Witness also the popularity of our annual pilgrimage to Ngatuhoa in the Kaimai Ranges, where members enjoy a week or more of clothes-free recreation amidst the invigorating freshness of bush and rivers; and where an al day tramp to the big waterfall, Rereituru is a "must".

Clearly there are many members who as well as their enjoyment of sand and seashore, also love mountains, rivers, lakes, and bush. Those members will find this book of great interest and delight.

It encompasses a wide range of subjects such as geological history, Maori exploration, myths and attitudes, flora and fauna, European explorers, prospectors and saw-millers, the legend of the "lost" lake, the advent of tramping, exploitation or preservation, the struggle to save the forest, the future recreational uses and above all fascinating details about the many colourful characters who have been associated in some way with this spectacular backdrop to the Harbour Capital, including some who have lost their lives in this notoriously and capriciously stormy mountain range.

Of particular interest to our members is an illustrated section under the chapter "The Golden Years" describing nude tramping which became very popular in the earlier days of tramping. Although ii is referred to as a "minority pastime" it was apparently favoured by some very well known personalities of that era. Some amusing tales of their escapades are included. I can testify to the fact that the tradition of nudity in the bush is still flourishing in the Tararuas. There is nothing more exhilarating after a hard, hot tramp on the "Tops" than to descend into a bush-clad river valley, stripping off ones clothes and plunging into the invariably cold, clear waters of a sunlit pool, then drying off on a warm boulder and feeling the life-giving sun reviving tired muscles.

The Tararuas offer a wealth of opportunities to enjoy nature, au naturel! To relax naked beside a crystal clear stream, surrounded by the songs of tuis, bellbirds, shining cuckoos, etc and the soothing sound of running water is, in my view, the nearest to paradise one could expect in this abundantly blessed land of ours. But be warned, care is needed. You can easily get lost in the dense bush and myriad valleys; and be prepared for sudden weather changes even in high summer. Nude tramping is great but it is essential to carry adequate warm clothing, food and drink even on short day tramps. This book records the fate of some who underestimated this vast, rugged wilderness and its unpredictable weather.

Tararua is a must for trampers and bush lovers, especially those who Live within easy reach of this splendid recreational asset and who want to know more about its many facets and moods. It is a comprehensive, well researched, beautifully presented publication and excellent value. l can thoroughly recommend it.

Geoff Horn

Book Reviewed: Tararua- the story of a mountain range by Chris Maclean, Published by Whitcombe Press, hardback, 272 pages. Originally retailing at $49-95 but discounted in most books hops at $44-95.

Fernland Hot Pool

The Rotota Sun Club has extended an invitation to Free Beach Group members to this years Tauranga Hot Pool Weekend on Saturday 27 May, 1995 (the last weekend of the school holidays, for those with a three term year). The Fernland Hot Pool in Cambridge Road is booked from 11:00am to 3:00pm (note earlier time!). Cost is still $4 per adult and $1 for school-aged children. FBG Membership card or INF passport will be required for entry. Lunch and refreshments may be taken into the pool area. A pot-luck dinner and social evening will follow at the Tauranga Historic Village/Museum Exhibition Hall, 17th Avenue West. A donation of $2 per adult will cover costs of the hall hire.
For further information, write to Graham Macgregor, 14 Burns St, Tauranga, or phone 07 578 6693 and leave a message on his answer-phone.

DEADLINE   for   the   next   FREE   BEACH   News   will   be   15   June,   1995

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1995

Page 3

Discussion Points

After an ultramegasonically awesome summer, we are now into our winter season of swim nights and saunas. Good on us! Nudism isn't just a summer thing - it's not merely a question of being sun worshippers. Nudism is a way of life, to be practised and enjoyed all year round, whenever possible. In fact, it is conceivable for someone to be a true nudist without being a sun worshipper. There's food for thought in that.

That's one of the things that nudists can do very productively throughout winter: think about things and discuss them as we congregate in our heated swimming pools and saunas. That's what I'd like to do in this short article: present a few ideas on topics that are very relevant to us and that we may wish to discuss prior to next summer. There are two topics that I would like to begin with.

1. Flying the Flag

In the Free Beach Group, we are proud of our very distinctive flag depicting a black Fred Bear on a yellow background. The flag is extremely useful in serving two purposes. Firstly, the flag identifies and designates who and what we are: it lets other people on a beach know that we are an organised group of social nudists. Obviously, the flag itself does not specify that we are nudists, but people who see that we congregate naked around the flag immediately identify us as a nudist group.

The second purpose of the flag follows on from the first. The flag offers security. This is particularly useful for other beach goers who would like to be naked but who may hesitate to go nude on their own. Upon seeing the flag and recognising us as an organised group of social nudists, other individuals and families find security in sunbathing in the same area as ourselves: they recognise that we are genuine nudists and feel comfortable in our vicinity.

Both these purposes of the flag have certainly been evident at Breaker Bay throughout this last magnificent summer. Some nudists have joined in with us, while others have been content to be in the same area as ourselves.

While fully recognising the usefulness of our flag, I think that it is worthwhile expressing a word of caution about the way we fly the flag.

During the summer at Breaker Bay, there were occasions when we had up to five or six flags flying in a row in front of us, spread out in a line about 30 meters long. I think that this manner of flying the flag, particularly all along the front of "our" spot at Breaker Bay, can be counter-productive: it can be a deterrent, acting like an electric fence. Flying the flag in this way can give to other beach users the impression that we are fencing ourselves in "our territory", and we want to fence them out. In this way, the flag certainly identifies us, but it can also deter other people from joining us.

The principle that we need to bear in mind is the fact that the flag is a means to an end, and not an end in itself. If we want the flag both to identify us and to offer security to others, we need to fly the flag appropriately. Each circumstance needs to be judged on its own merits.

I suggest that, at Breaker Bay, we need to fly one or two flags along the rocks behind us, rather than in a row in front of us.

2. Distributing Pamphlets

For years we were saying how good it would be for us to have a promotional pamphlet, and it is indeed excellent that we have one now. Through nobody's fault, however, we have probably not given enough thought to the way we distribute the pamphlet.

There is a nudist family who came to Breaker Bay regularly during this last summer. They are very affable, likeable people who thoroughly enjoy the beach. They also feel very comfortable in our vicinity but they do not want to join the Free Beach Group. We need to respect their space. Unfortunately, this family has virtually been harassed by the number of times when different members of the FBG approached them with our pamphlet and by the persistence of the approaches.

Next summer we need to be better organised at distributing the pamphlet. We also need to be courteous and not engage other people in lengthy discussions if they don't want to be involved. "Overkill" and eventual harassment are real dangers if the same people on a beach are approached by us pamphlet-wielders more than once or twice. We could give the impression that we are just as fanatical as the bible wielders who come knocking on doors - and make ourselves just as unpopular.

What's the Solution? That's what we need to talk about during the winter.

Frank Peek

FREE BEACH   News

May - June, 1995

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