National Committee

President John Groombridge

(04) 589-5461

Vice PresidentTo be appointed by Committee

(North Island)          (04) 589 5461

Vice PresidentTo be appointed by Committee

(South Island)         (03) 322 7990

SecretaryJackie Caldwell 

 

TreasurerJohn Groombridge

(04) 589-5461

Members 

Ian Bushett(04) 237-0193 

Joyce Fleming(03) 322-7990 

Linda Geeves(04) 478-4820 

John Lowe(06) 752-7915 

George North(03) 325 3316 

Correspondence should be mailed to the official FBG address

LOCAL CONTACTS

Auckland Jan Winn 

(09) 482 0134

Tauranga Ted Lidgard 

(07) 542 2344

Waikato Roger Morris 

(07) 856 8857

Taranaki John Lowe 

(06) 752 7915 

Hawkes Bay Murray Ennor 

(06) 879 6988

Sthn Hawkes Bay Hugh Bowles 

(06) 374 6238

Wellington Meryl Baker 

(04) 528 7010

Linda Geeves

(04) 478 4820

Christchurch Joyce Fleming 

(03) 322 7990

Steve Wilkinson

(03) 325 3316

 

Mami's Haulover Beach

A successful Model for other Communities

Haulover Beach is not a typical remote beach, and was not traditionally used by nudists. The present site was rarely used for any purpose, and at first it appeared not to be the best place for a clothes optional area. It is bordered by two major commercial / residential areas of Miami Beach, on the "Gold Coast", but was remote enough to attract undesirable elements who made it unsafe for legitimate beach users. The police could not patrol the beach regularly and mostly only responded to complaints. Thus, this section of beach saw everything from drug deals to rapes, muggings, gang warfare, armed robbery and, of course, inappropriate sexual behaviour. Hardly the setting for a naturist beach!

While South Florida Free Beaches (SFFB) held occasional outings at Haulover in the mid-80's, it was not considered a desirable location and had no convenient parking. Then in 1990, the SFFB decided to establish a clothes-optional area close to Miami, and Haulover Beach was chosen, mainly because no other group of beach users could argue that SFFB were taking a beach area away from them. Scheduled beach days were established so naturists could be on the beach as a group and enjoy safety in numbers.

The most important thing SFFB did was to adopt this particular section of beach and manage it as it would its own property. SFFB believes that more nude beaches are lost due to the neglect of the naturist beach users, than due to the people who oppose them.

The SFFB's position was to not tolerate unlawful behaviour on "their" beach, even though it had nothing to do with nude people being there. They knew their enemies would try to blame all their problems on their presence.

Monitors were recruited and beach clean-ups started by SFFB members. They patrolled the dunes and informed any perverts that this was a naturist family beach and they were not welcome. Glassware users were tolled that glassware on the beach was against the law and asked not to bring glass containers to the beach in future. Textiled troublemakers were asked to leave the beach, and irresponsible strollers though the dune areas were informed that their actions were not appreciated.

Early on the SFFB purchased a cell-phone for its beach "Mayor", which became valuable for beach management as well as for helping people in distress and informing the police of the occasional lawbreaker. Other naturists were notified of Haulover's success to help establish a strong user presence on the beach. At the same time, they purposely avoided publicly in the local media to prevent an influx of gawkers and opportunist public officials.

Word soon got around to Dade County Park and Recreation Department that the naturists respected the environment and park employees, and were a positive influence on the beach. After nearly two years of conducting undercover surveillance at the beach, the police realised that nude people were responsible citizens, and were the ones keeping the beach safe.

The negative stereotypes concerning nude users began to dwindle. The SFFB's professional approach at meetings with the police, park management and other government officials earned it respect. requests for a car park, lifeguard service, litter baskets and dune fences were honoured.

The police soon learned that the so-called "secondary effects" of nude beach are less crime, less inappropriate behaviour and no drug dealers. The Dade County Park & Recreation Department learned that the secondary effects of a nude beach are a dramatic increase in parking revenues, job security for park employees, and an increased population on the beach, which in turn leads to an increase in business in the adjoining commercial areas, which leads to reduced crime.

Due to attacks on nude beaches in Florida by the radical right, ft was decided that the time had come for SFFB to become proactive and work with the media to develop factual stories about Haulover Beach's economic benefits and the impact on tourism.

There was a surge in hotel bookings as Haulover Beach became a tourist destination for an increasing number of naturists. The owner of Ocean Palm Hotel said "A lot of people are coming here for that beach. We are running almost full occupancy". The manager of Olympia Hotel stated "Haulover attracts an upscale clientele. The best clients are going to the nude beach. They are more refined and educated business people who are clean and don't cause headaches. They're better clients altogether."

Adapted from a report in "Nude & Natural" 15.2

Jackie Caldwell

A few words from Joyce

I see from my diary that last year our FBG walks in the Christchurch area continued regularly throughout the winter months, and that we usually got a bit of sunbathing here and there. This year the winter has been bleak and long, even though it was shortened for me by a trip to the USA / Canada in May-June.

May was a good time for our pilgrimage to the redwood forests of California: perfect weather and not too many tourists around. We had a booklet of naturist beaches in California, but these proved to be mostly of rather difficult access. We are really lucky here in New Zealand to be able to exercise our clothes-optional privilege on so many regular beaches. So I hereby urge all our members - whether you yourself use the beaches or simply support the principle of free choice - to keep paying your $20 PA subscription in order to protect this freedom which we enjoy.

Travelling around California, Bert and I visited some superb Naturist clubs, notably Lupin and Laguana del Sol which are Gardens of Eden, but at a substantial price.

In Canada, our attempts to explore the Naturist scene were limited by family constraints - to put it mildly - but once having escaped the relatives we enjoyed a slow train journey through the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver. We stayed at the Jericho Park hostel where a map on the wall showing local amenities included the nudist beach which they say is the best in Canada - Wreck Beach. A local authority sign at the top of the cliff bears the message: "Clothing is optional at beach ahead". It's a great place to go if you can manage the 269 steps and I hope to write more about it later.

************************

Now Mainlanders, you may have noticed that the Calendar of events for Christchurch members has been missing for the last few newsletters. Why is that? Does it all have to devolve upon me? If so, tough, because I will be out of action for a few months due to a forthcoming op (Yuk!) and I am sure there is somebody else out of all "youse lot" who can throw a barbecue, get-together, walk, pot-luck or what-have-you to meet and share ideas for the Summer. I have a ton of booklets about local walks if anybody would like to borrow them. If you prefer to meet just casually at a beach, say so, and if you can write a few words about it, PLEASE do. It all helps to keep to group alive.

Cheers!

Joyce Fleming

1996/97 Subscriptions

Renewals received before 30 November go into draw for refund. Renew NOW!

A Health Germ

A "Get well soon wish" to our "Mainland stalwart" Joyce Fleming who will be undergoing surgery in the second week of September.

We wish Joyce a speedy recovery, and hope that September will not only be the beginning of Spring, but also the beginning of a rapid recovery ready to enjoy the sun's Summer rays.

Naked Man's Appeal Declined

Walking naked down a public road is disorderly behaviour, The Court of Appeal said in a decision reported in the Evening Post 18 July, 1996.

The Court of Appeal declined special leave to Nobilangelo Ceramalus to appeal a point of law that his behaviour was not disorderly. In the Court of Appeal judgement he was described as a committed naturist. He had been convicted in the North Shore District Court in February on a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place. Ceramalus had spent the day naked at nearby Fitzpatrick Bay beach, and sometime after 6pm he left the beach to walk home. He wore clothes for part of his journey, but "disrobed" about 100 metres from his home. He carried his clothes in a bag the rest of the way.

Ceramalus does not accept that exposure of the human body is disorderly, however, the several neighbours who saw him, found it offensive, and the Courts agreed.

In an article in the January-February Free Beach News, Frank Peek concluded that "Public nudity in New Zealand is not legal. There are, however, circumstances where public nudity is not illegal, and this includes public beaches where nude sunbathing is not uncommon". Frank continued, noting that "... the law itself is neutral on the whole issue of public nudity. The actual legality or illegality of public nudity depends on the attitude of the public in relation to the particular circumstances of each incident.

Maybe another way of judging the legality of being naked in public, is to consider what the reaction (verdict) of a jury of twelve members of the public would be to the evidence presented in a Court.

John Groombridge

Treasurer's Report

This year's Accounts reflect the healthy state of the Group. Income exceeded expenditure by $2120, and 4lthough this was $520 less than last year, the previous year's $2640 excess was helped by donations which were $1280 higher than this year. Income was $70 up on last year, and expenses were up $220. This year there was also a significant increase in the sale of shop items. Another bonus" this year was the refund of $168 income tax after amendments to our Constitution enabled IRD to grant us anon-profit-body" status. This exempts us from paying income tax on interest (up to $1000) earned on investments. The $2000 Term Deposit matured this year and has been deposited in an equivalent interest bearing Saving Account. Excess "cash" from our cheque account has been placed in a "bonus" savings account to earn more interest.

John Groombridge (Treasurer)

Nudist Swim & Spa

Last Saturday in every month

6pm to midnight from February to November.

Palm Springs Pools, Parakai, Helensville.

For further details phone 09 525 6067.

AGM Weekend Specials!!!

Sat 14 Sept:	2pm	AGM
	5-30pm	Spa at Kilbirnie
	7pm	Buffet Dinner
Sun 15 Sept:	6pm	Swim Night

Note changed date of Swim Night

Refer Wgtn Calendar for details or phone Linda at 04 478 4820

Cover-up Offends

The Evening Post (17 July 1996) reports that the Broadcasting Complaints Authority threw out a complaint from John Lowe of Oakura, who had been watching an item on the TV show Tonight on March 13. The show featured an artist making his contribution to the Wellington International Festival of the Arts, by rolling naked in paint and then on a canvas.

What outraged John Lowe was TVNZ's use of an electronic mask to cover the artist's pubic area. He complained that the mask was a "deliberate distortion" of the event and did not reflect the truth of the human form, and that a message of sleaze was conveyed when innocent nudity was masked.

Whereas the average normal reader of the article would have assumed the article was about the artist and his methods, TVNZ claimed that the article was about an unusual police call-out, and that the sight of a penis was not relevant to the story being told.

It is probably safe to assume that if the artist had not been naked, he would not have had such a large (un-complaining) audience, and that TVNZ (and the Evening Post) would not have made a feature of the event.

John Groombridge     

Sunshine Coast

I have recently returned from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland where I visited Pacific Sun Friends Club and two "unofficial" beaches at Alexandria Bay and at Coolum.

Alexandria Bay was the best beach. I, with 20-30 people used the beach for sun bathing and swimming. One family, FBG members from Whangarei, were also there.

On one occasion, two unmarked vans bore down on us and strongly suggested that we all ought to dress, and asked for our passports. A local man was not so lucky, he was ordered to be interviewed by his local council. It appeared too much to apprehend us "foreigners". I would have been back home anyway.

However the episode put a sour note on a wonderful afternoon in the sun, and would not help tourism for Kiwis travelling to enjoy the sun by escaping our winter. Queensland's rules are obviously harsher than ours.

John Orchard     

Spot Check Appreciated

At our regular Swim night on 14 July at Cannons Creek Pool, most of those present took the opportunity of getting a spot check by a skin specialist who had offered to be present.

We were made to feel at ease with his sympathetic approach to our life style. For most of us his advice was reassuring, no need to worry. But for others, including yours-truly, his caution and advice to see one's own GP was just in time. The strange looking "spot" was in fact an ulcer, which is now being treated, but may have been left as "one of those things", had I not had the opportunity to the check.

As this visit proved to be very popular we plan to repeat it next year.

Meryl Baker