Pornography & life's real obscenities

What on earth is Tony Flewellen going to worry about next? After harrying out of print an utterly innocent photograph of a little girl wearing a braces - slung inverted in a fire fighter’s helmet as nappies, Mr Flewellen must be seeking other targets for his alarmingly extreme puritanism. ... The real danger is that political correctness has delivered us to this point of absurdity, where an infant wearing a basin-size helmet with leg holes can be seriously debated in the media as being pornographic.

Above is an extract from a September editorial in the Taranaki Daily News. Alongside is my response. Despite a stated policy limit of 250 words, only 2 words were deleted from my 404 word letter! I hope the message for us is clear - if we respond reasonably and quickly to these issues in the media, we'll have our point of view known - and probably, as in this case, accepted.

Even if our point of view appears not to be accepted, I'm sure it is productive, culturally, to take every opportunity to make our point, because there is still a large majority of people in NZ who silently accept 'innocent' nudity in appropriate circumstances.

The serious danger I perceive, is that the younger generation now being brought up with a de-facto American ethos via our TV sets, have assumed that it is right and normal to block body bits from our wholesome view. They have no idea that is a new fashion in local TV. This country has never had any legal proscription on the depiction of pubic hair. Yet we, who watch our heritage of relative honesty about the body slip quietly into oblivion, are saying nothing. Now I see how a 'Dark Age' occurs: is that what we're going to accept?

I'm certain that my solo efforts with TVNZ have had some effect, despite the report below. Just one more writer would multiply the effect significantly. Any takers?

John Lowe

Difference
between
nudity
and porn

HEAR, HEAR! Your editorial on the fireman's calendar is spot on. But how did we get to such a state of paranoia and fear that Tony Flewellen can confidently announce his spontaneous reaction: "This is wrong!" and not fear being labelled as sick?

In 1968 the Indecent Publications Tribunal (our only censorship body to come under the Justice Department rather than Internal Affairs) stated: "If pleasant and unretouched nude pictures were as common in the community as it appears they are in nudist clubs, then it is likely that their production would be greeted with no more unseemly excitement than it is there." The Tribunal made no restriction on the publication or display of such photos, but the tribunal's jurisdiction did not include newspapers.

Five years on, several national newspapers printed naturist-type photos. During the following year, all the responsible editors were replaced.

Then the Muldoon era descended. He appointed Merv Wellington as Minister of Education to lash back at the 'trendy-lefty-pinko' teachers he was convinced had hi-jacked the education system. In the meantime, out comes the Johnson Report. It was founded on the belief that children should be taught sensitivity to each other, at school. But as a natural consequence, that also meant: Sex Education! Mr Wellington stuck dogmatically with his rejection of that report for the duration of his nine-year reign. Our current scapegoat: Joseph Thompson, 'developed' from 6-15 during the reign of Merv Wellington.

Over this last generation Women Against Pornography has gradually replaced Patricia Bartlett as our moral watchdog. In 1990 the Minister of Women's Affairs (Jenny Shipley) via the newspapers, literally pleaded for people to complain about 'porn' so she could get some impetus behind the introduction of the current censorship act. Our current censor, a young woman from Australia, has a backlog of at least six months, in terms of material awaiting decisions.

The Christchurch Crèche case seems to me a graphic demonstration of the effects of squeezing the community between the religious right and a rigid class of feminist.

We are now at the point where we seem hell-bent on throwing out the baby with the bath water. Almost literally, in the case of this calendar. Will we ever, culturally, be able to differentiate between innocent nudity and sex? Not; it seems to me, until the 'silent majority' speak out.

JOHN LOWE

Tatraimaka

'Masked' nude actor OK with authority

A COMPLAINT against TVNZ because it masked shots of an actor's penis in scenes from a play has been dismissed by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

John Lowe, of Oakura, complained that a Newsnight item on Channel 2 in February about a Downstage production called Skin Tight discriminated against Caucasian men because the actor's penis was electronically masked.

Mr Lowe said It was inappropriate to mask the depiction of nakedness. He also complained that the masking obscured material which was factual and breached the broadcasting code, as the extract was not a true reflection of the original event.

While TVNZ acknowledged that the theatre audience saw the actor naked, it said they would have had some idea about the content of the play before attending. However, television viewers were not in a position to make that choice.

The authority said the complaint was not an acceptable use of the complaints procedure because it was motivated not by the broadcast, but by a wish to get a firm policy on frontal nudity. NZPA

Amendments and the Constitution

Having in the last newsletter urged caution in making amendments to the Constitution without sufficient reason, I was approached by the Committee who suggested that I put forward my thoughts on any future amendments with a view to making our Constitution as professional as possible. As well as aiming at having a professional Constitution, it was deemed desirable to make any foreseeable amendments all at the same time, rather than sporadically as time progresses.

While our present Constitution is a robust document, a few improvements can still be made. With the aims of the Committee in mind, therefore, I have made the following suggestions.

1. Clause One of a Constitution such as ours should be named Title and Commencement. The title of the Constitution itself and the commencement date of the Constitution need to be indicated right at the start of the Constitution.

2. Clause Two of the Constitution should be named Interpretation. This is where the meaning of the terms used in the Constitution should be placed, rather than the current placement at the top of page one, outside the actual framework of the Constitution.

3. Clause Three should be an establishment clause. The original Constitution should have included a clause reading "There is hereby established a society known as the Free Beach Group Incorporated". It is now too late, twenty one years down the road, to insert this clause with the same wording. We should, however, still have a clause along the lines of "There shall be a society known as the Free Beach Group Incorporated".

4. I suggest that the principal Mission statement in clause 4.1 "To promote, encourage and support the practice of recreational nudity in public places when appropriate and desirable, such nudity being at the discretion of the individual participating" is too long and restrictive. Our nudism is not restricted to recreation and public places. I have no doubt that many of us do our housework and gardening etc in the nude and, although some of us may consider such activities to be recreational, objectively considered they are work activities rather than recreational. Without philosophising here about nudism as a way of life, I suggest that it would be accurate and appropriate for our principal Mission statement to read along the lines of "To promote recreational nudity and the nudist lifestyle".

5. The last clause of the Constitution should be named Revocation. It should simply read as "All previous Constitutions of the Group are hereby revoked".

If adopted, these suggestions would ensure that our Constitution is professional in format and content. I believe the Committee will also propose some other refinements, which I support.

Frank Peek

Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution referred to in Frank Peek's article are detailed on page 4.

It is proposed to call a Special General Meeting to be held at Ngatuhoa on Saturday, 27 January 1996.

Members are invited to comment on the proposed amendments before they are officially notified in the next newsletter.

Fred Bear Shop

Several new items have been added to the list of FREE BEACH GROUP items available to members.

Two types of towels are listed, the regular is suitable for the beach, and the luxury model is a higher quality (thicker) towel suitable for visits to the spa or sauna.

A baseball style cap with an adjustable back strap will keep the sun out of your eyes, and a nylon wet gear bag will be just the thing to carry your damp towels, or other items.

The latest edition of the beach guide gives directions to all those interesting and remote beaches around the coastline.

Car stickers with the words "Go Natural Go Bare", and bumper stickers with "I'm a bare-skin" are guaranteed to attract attention.

All items are our official yellow and prominently feature Fred Bear.

Just fill in the pink order form, and send it with your cheque. All items are ex-stock at present, so order in time for Summer.

Nudist In formation Day

Issue 154 of NZ Naturist featured an article in which it was proposed to hold a Mardi Gras type event at the Western Spring Sports Ground on 10 December 1995 to promote the nudist lifestyle.

Unfortunately this event has been postponed until next Summer.

The event was to feature bands, buskers, three marquees with information, promotional videos, etc.

Waikuku

Waitangi Weekend 1996 Is the time to head for Waikuku Lodge, on the edge of the Haurangi Forest Park, South Wairarapa.

Access is by way of a narrow winding metal road, the scenery gradually changing from grazing sheep to scrub and regenerating native bush. Further south from the Lodge there are stands of beach forest.

A small stream near the Lodge provides children with an adventure play ground. For the fit, there many interesting walksitramps and hills to climb. Down the road a stream provides swimming and picnic spots for the less energetic to relax in the sun.

The Lodge itself is an old farm house with all the amenities necessary for a comfortable weekend, Including refrigerators, electric cooking, hot and cold water for showers, and flushing toilets, and if the evenings turn cool, there are open fires.

And at the end of each day, there is time for congenial conversation, playing cards, etc, and comfortable bunks ensure a good nights sleep to prepare for the next days adventures.

Wellington Notes

Himawaii Mid-winter Surf Safari at Palmerston North Sun Club

For those who were otherwise engaged, here is what happened.

We arrived about lunch-time, after going all the way to the end of the road and back to the bridge. WE found the club-house and then a powered site. About an hour later, Mel arrived. We were all made welcome.

After lunch we wandered around the grounds and filled in time until about 3pm, when Daniel couldn't wait to get into the 9 degree pool for his free coke. Some others soon followed and received their glass of mulled wine. Then things led into the late afternoon and a well prepared evening meal, etc. For those who wanted to watch rugby, there was a television in the clubrooms.

Morning, time to pack up and leave by lunch-time.

Linda Geeves

National Rally Sports Team

The NZNF National Rally will soon be upon us. Wellington Sun Club will host this not to be missed event over the period 27 December 95 to 2 January 96.

It is traditional for visiting clubs to participate in various sporting events starting Friday 29 December. Now is the time for all Free Beach Group closet-Olympians to come-out. Free Beachers wishing to join various teams (volleyball, petanque, miniten, swimming, etc), please contact Andrew at 04 476 3394.

This will be the year that the Free Beach Team out-gold-medals the nude-wimps!

Andrew Christie

Beach Clean-up

The Free Beach Group will support the Wellington East Rotary Club's beach clean-up program. We will help remove rubbish from Breaker Bay on Sunday 26 November 95. Meet at 9 am for light work with a BBQ at midday. Please bring gloves and work clothes.

The City Council will provide rubbish bags and will take away the rubbish.

This is a great opportunity to help the community and ourselves.

A good turnout of members is expected so BYO BBQ food and drinks, etc, for a great time.

Andrew Christie

An opportunity to fly the flag, and wear your new Fred Bear Cap and T-shirt.

Last Swim Night

The last Swim Night of the season will be at Cannons Creek Pool on Sunday 10 December. This has been another well patronised event, and you can be sure that the Swim Nights will be recommenced again in the Autumn 96.

The mix of Swim Nights, Saunas, and Spas at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre has provided Wellington members with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of the nudist lifestyle throughout the winter months.

FREE BEACH News

This Newsletter is intended to be an open forum and 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. The material contained in this Newsletter is Copyright. Editors wishing to reprint any item in part or whole are invited to contact the Editor for permission, and any conditions which may apply.

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

John Groombridge, PO Box 30-099, LOWER HUTT

WAIKUKU LODGE

Waitangi Weekend 1986

Wide open spaces, Bush walks, Walking Tracks, Swimming, Tramping

Waikuku Lodge is near the Haurangi Forest Park, 32Km south-east of Martinborough, Wairarapa. The Lodge was originally a farm house built in 1920 by the Mac Donald family. The house was constructed from materials from the Majuba mill site, and brought up the hill in horse drawn carts via a two metre wide track. The Lodge is serviced with electricity, hot water, wood fires, and communal sleeping bunks for 30-40 people. There are some mattresses (but it might be advisable to come prepared). The kitchen has electric cooking facilities and fridge, but bring your own pots and pans. Ablutions include flush toilets, showers, hot and cold water. There is not much level space for camping.

When ...... from 5 pm FRIDAY Night, 2 February,

to 4 pm TUESDAY Afternoon, 6 February.

Costs ...... ADULTs ............ $7-50 per night

$25 for four nights

Children ........... Free

Payment before 20 January, 1996, use slip below.

Each camper will need to bring ......

Sleeping bag, pillow, blankets, towels, torch, etc All your food and drink requirements for the weekend. Cooking equipment, including plates, cups, and cutlery Dish washing liquid, tea-towel, toilet paper, etc and any other items you may need (eg: can opener).

Note ... NO dogs, NO cats, NO firearms. Bring some firewood if you want to light the fire. All rubbish must be removed, bring suitable containers to take out all that you bring to the camp.

The Lodge has sleeping capacity for about 30 people, so we would like an early indication of the number of members (and friends) who would like to come. Please let me know how many will be coming. Day visitors welcome.

If you need more details, phone Linda at 04-478-4820. or write to: Linda Geeves, 38 Bracken Rd, Newlands, Wellington

For directions and a map, plus a layout of the camp, see over.

Cut along here -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WAIKUKU LODGE CAMP

Please cross your cheque, and make payable to Wellington Free Beach Group.
and mail to Linda Geeves, 38 Bracken Rd, Newlands, WELLINGTON.

Waikuku Lodge - DIRECTIONS

		From Wellington, drive to Featherston, turn right to Martinborough. From the north, travel through the Wairarapa to Greytown, then follow the signs to Martinborough. If you are travelling south via the Manawatu, turn off at Plimmerton into Grays Rd to the Hutt Valley. At the bottom of the Haywards Hill, at the junction of Highway 2, turn left to Upper Hutt, and carry on over the Rimutaka Range to Featherston, turn right to Martinborough. From Martinborough take the road to Pirinoa / Lake Ferry, turn off at the Awahea / White Rock signpost 1 Km from Martinborough. Continue for 8 Km and turn right into Ruakoputuna Rd, which changes its name after a few kilometres, to Haurangi Rd. Follow Haurangi Rd virtually to its end, passing through a gate, about 3 Km from the Lodge.

Send your Booking off to Linda before 20 January, 1996

Linda Geeves
38 Bracken Rd
Newlands
WELLINGTON