# 110 - September 1984 

The first hint you get that you're not headed for your ordinary, run-of-the-mill tropic island paradise is when you're a few minutes out of Noumea.

The skipper climbs down from the bridge of the ferry and you notice he hasn't got any pants on.

A wetsuit top, yes. There's a bit of spray flying about up there. But pants? No.

Then, just when you think perhaps you've imagined it, up pops the engineer from the bowels of the boat - stark naked. And this is the signal, it seems, for everybody else who wants to to get their gear off.

Two hours steaming through the azure waters, the Hold Mai (an ex-New Zealand pilot boat) nudges its way through the reef and the skipper kills the engine. Suddenly a blonde girl dashes from the coconut palms, grabs the hawser and starts pulling you in. And like almost everybody else on this idyllic little island she's completely starkers.

This was my introduction to M'ba, l5ha (37 acres) of lush vegetation circled by snow-white sand and vodka-clear water, just over the horizon from Noumea. A tiny Pacific atoll less than three hours flying from Auckland, M'ba is fast becoming the mecca for jet setting nudists from all over the world.

The wealthy french go there to escape the European winter. The models and starlets, who normally frequent the Riviera when the temperature drops, now fly down to M'ba to top up their all over suntans. And despite all this M'ba is still:

 • Unspoiled, highly informal and

 • Surprisingly cheap.

And one of the nice things about M'ba is that you don't have to get your gear off - or even be a naturist - if you don't want to. But it pays to remember that if you DO, the parts that normally don't get exposed to the New Zealand sun need a bit of extra sunburn cream. It can be quite painful if you forget.

M'ba has been run as a back-to-basics resort island by husband and wife team Christian and Michelle Plancade for the last four years. Initially it was for nudists exclusively and only accredited naturists were allowed to land. Now, however, all are welcome - provided they aren't offended by the sight of naked bodies. And most visitors eventually chose to shed their clothes.

In the past year the island has become a popular holiday destination with the few New Zealanders who have heard of it. Most are nudists and so high is interest that the Avondale agency, Atlas Travel, now organises special tours to the island. Eight, 10, 12 and 17-day tours are available with air fares and accommodation.

One major attraction of M'ba is its cheapness. The return boat trip from downtown Noumea costs about $12 and you can camp on the island for a little over $5 a night. Twenty four-berth chalets are available for $13 a night each person. These are unique little thatched A-frame huts perched above the ground and entered via a ladder and a floor trapdoor.

They have electricity but toilet and washing facilities are in ablution block where the shower is decidedly of the "open-air" variety and only metres from the main path to the large communal dining room-cum-bar.

M'ba is geared to the nature lover and the sun fan. Bush walks are safe and popular. There are no snakes or poisonous spiders. Inside the reef snorkeling is also popular with hundreds of multi-coloured fish almost within touching distance.

One sporting attraction on the tiny island not to be missed is a game of French bowls - an activity that defies description and was beyond the abilities of my basic French to divine. Tennis and volleyball are also available.

But to the crunch question. What is it like to get your gear off before perfect strangers for the first time? On Day One the idea frankly terrified me. On Day Two it didn't seem quite so daunting. And on Day Three, fortified by a couple of glasses of the excellent local beer (called Number One) I took the plunge. And never looked back.

My only regret was that I forgot to apply some sun lotion to a couple of areas I don't normally expose to the sun.

The Editor of the New Zealand Naturist,
Graeme Brown and his wife Jan are pleased to
announce the birth of their first child,
Phillip, a natural naturist born on
the 20th July 1984.

It was a lovely beach. Not sand, perhaps, but hard, round, white pebbles. To get to it, a not-too-difficult scramble down the cliff. Above all, it was less than two hours by ferry from Piraeus, and naturists had been using it for more than ten years with no problem. In Angelo's eyes, just the beach to have a party on. The pretext, the thirtieth birthday of the INF.

The Athens press had done him proud. His Adam and Eve Club, although still siteless, had now gained official approval, and nudists were still news. As we disembarked at Agistri, on a warm September evening, it wasn't only the weather that seemed set fair. It would be a good weekend, a weekend to remember. And it was.

Most of the party stayed overnight in the small Alkyoni Hotel, perched on the cliff top; the remainder pitched tents upon the beach itself. In all, there were about twenty of us. There were some Scandinavian girls, stopping off for a few days on their way to Israel; I was there to represent the INF; all the rest were Greek.

In the morning, Angelos came up from the beach to find us. "Trouble's brewing," he claimed. "The parish priest has read about us in the papers, and he wants to stop us!"

Rumours were flying round the village. A boat-load of naked people was coming, to hold an international congress on the beach. The priest had rung the church bell, to warn the faithful of the impending invasion, but nobody had come to church to find what was up, so he was now walking round the village delivering the message in person.

Over breakfast in the village cafe, it all seemed rather comic, something out of a Greek Clochemerle. From where we sat we could see the little ferry making its trip over from the neighbouring island of Aegina, and, when it arrived, off clambered two more priests, complete with cassocks, beards and chimney-pot hats. Obviously reinforcements had been sent for, but what would they do?

We at least were wasting good sunbathing time. The beach called, and we had to obey. During the morning, more and more people arrived, until there were nearly a hundred of us. Not all were paid-up card-carrying naturists, but, even if not, nearly all were nude. The sun beat down, the water was warm and inviting. It was a great day.

"Look up there!" called Demetribs, just before noon. Up on the cliff top, there they were. Three black priests in a row, like vultures waiting for a death. And death there would have been, if they'd had their way. They were discussing the possibility of dynamiting the cliff, to bring it rumbling down in judgment on the ungodly below. Parish priests may keep wine and incense in the vestry; fortunately dynamite they do not. With a shudder, they turned and went, to think up other tactics. The sunbathers laid back again, as if a cloud had gone from before the sun.

It was a day for relaxing, for drinking in the sun, for splashing in the warm sea whenever you got too hot. We had all the time in the world, it seemed, and we didn't even think about lunch until well after two. We clambered back up to the Alkyoni, and were passed by a commandeered truck, heading up from the harbour in a cloud of dust. In the back of the truck, sitting uncomfortably on the floor in sweaty uniforms, were seven policemen.

The chances of catching anybody naked on the beach were pretty small, we thought. The law could be seen coming from a long way away. What we didn't bargain for was that Lotta, a young Swedish student, would be half asleep in the shade and wouldn't know what was going on until it was too late. With her boyfriend, she was bundled off to the village police station and charged.

It was again a time for rumours. She would be taken to Aegina to be locked up overnight. No; she would have to go to Piraeus, where the court would sit. It was all the fault of the priest, who had fetched the police. No, it wasn't. One of the others was his bishop and that was the bishop who got the Saladi Beach Hotel closed down. Of course she wouldn't be charged, said others. As an uncomprehending visitor, they'd just caution her and let her go. As if in sympathy with the general gloom, the sun disappeared behind the tall cliffs. For the naturists, the day was over.

The night, on the other hand, had not yet begun. During his morning call, the priest had warned the hotel of reprisals if the party went ahead. Yet go ahead it did. It takes more than a spoilsport parson to stop a Greek party. It was a first-rate party too, with food and drink and speeches and music, and, of course, the INF birthday cake. As the cake was about to be cut, in walked Lotta.

"I told you she’d get off!" cried Angelos. But get off she hadn't. Her passport had been impounded, and she had instructions to report at the quay at dawn to catch the first ferry to Piraeus, where she would be locked up until Monday. She urgently needed legal advice, and legal advice she got, of a sort, from one of the club members present. "No problem," he explained. "Just plead guilty. It's an automatic fine of 6000 drachmas."
"But she hasn’t got 6000 drachmas," I replied. "She’s only a hitch-hiking student, and that's more than forty pounds!" But for the Greeks there were more important things to worry about. The cake had to be cut and passed around, and there was dancing to be done. A suggestion of a whip round for her was enthusiastically taken up, and just as quickly forgotten, as they all went off to the disco leaving Lotta and her boyfriend to drown their sorrows in retsina.

Sunday was a repeat of Saturday with variations. The police returned, at the instigation of a local councilor this time, but a friendly journalist had come around in a boat to warn us, and nobody was caught.

Lotta, of course, was not with us. Where she was, nobody knew, and very few seemed to care.

The moral of this story seems to be that nude sunbathing on secluded beaches is all right, even in Greece, so long as you don't make a great song and dance about it before you start. It wasn't the nudity that upset the locals. It had been going on for years and brought a lot of trade. What spoiled things was the press publicity, which made them fear an invasion. And if you do get into trouble with the law, there's little you can do but pay up and try to look cheerful.

Postscript: Lotta was fined 10,000 drachmas (about 70 pounds) for 'having offended common decency.' She also got fifteen days in prison for having, so they said, kicked a policeman on the way to Pireaus. The Swedish embassy intervened, and she appealed and was set free.

Many club members do not know what this Trust is all about, and possibly some of these members have never heard of Perc. Cousins. This article is intended to remedy both these matters.

Percy W. Cousins was the founder of the organized nudist movement in New Zealand, and the first President of the New Zealand Sunbathing Association Inc. (now the NZNF) from 1958 to 1969. It went back as far as 1945 when Perc. added a footnote to an article published in Health and Efficiency stating that the Editor was at liberty to pass on his address to interested readers in this country. From the tiny acorn grows the mighty oak, and from this small beginning in 1945 we now have the movement as it is known today.

During the latter half of Perc's life he had a weak heart. This affected his activities to an extent beyond that which he liked as he had always been an active person. While he was still alive on this planet he missed attending only one National Rally - at Wanganui in January 1961. He was in bed, having several weeks complete rest - on doctor's orders. To quote his own words, his old heart "just wouldn't stand any more".

It was at this Rally that the national executive of the day established the Trust in his name as a permanent memorial to what he had done for the nudist movement not only in New Zealand but also in building up goodwill with other national nudist associations overseas. From this basis the Trust has grown to be a respected organisation within the movement, legally established and run.

The objects of the Trust are very wide, and entitle the Trustees to do almost anything. One suggestion made at the time the Trust was established, was to provide financial assistance to nudist youth visiting clubs in Australia.

These have been made to assist in development and improvements to club grounds, preparation for Rallies, and as our photo shows, helping the Orchard Sun Club Inc. in Dunedin over the difficult financial period when repairing their grounds following the Abbotsford slip.

The Trustees would, naturally, be prepared to consider other requests for financial assistance should these be forthcoming.

The present Trustees, appointed in 1978, include Doug, the son of Perc. who is well known throughout our clubs, and two other Wellington club members, both of whom have served their club on past Committees, including terms as Presidents.

And how are funds raised? Interest on loans, interest on invested funds, Rally collections, donations, and a proportion of national levies payable to the NZNF are the main sources of revenue. The gross assets now stand at $15,000, and at the time of writing $10,900 is on loan to various clubs. The Trustees are always pleased to receive donations at their address, P.O. Box 1359, Wellington 1.

Haven't we read that club news before? Like once too often? At least we learn that the club survives, just in case we feel motivated to visit.

Flipping further through the magazine, we notice a picture of a mother cat nursing wee kittens, watched by a group of admiring nude folk. The caption says: "George, mascot of Serendipity Sun Club, surprised everyone by producing six hungry babes." End of report.

Neither club provided Real News. Yet two contrasting messages were presented. Nondescript's reporter was gamely doing a chore. Serendipity's reporter showed people being pleased by a commonplace event. Which turns the reader on?

Unfair! The deck is stacked, since pictures often surpass words. Yes, but a club reporter needn't rely on words, when publishable photos can be found.

Let's imagine you have been appointed as club reporter. Perhaps the job has been pushed on you in addition to secretarial duties or public relations, because nobody else would take it. And you think you can't write. Here's how:

Look for help from a member who writes for fun (even if only poetry or long letters). If you were to ask this member to serve as reporter, you'd likely scare him/her away. But if you merely ask your helper to write one specific report of one particular event (selected by you), you may get enough to fill a quarterly quota. After you've pulled that trick several times, your victim might become brave enough to take the reporter job "temporarily".

For now, until you recruit a replacement, you're it. So your first step is simply to draw up a time-table including the magazine deadlines, your personal deadlines (a fortnight sooner), and your club's planned events. You'll quickly find the subject matter for most of your quarterly columns: an event which conveniently occurs before your deadlines. But, alas, some events fall just after a deadline, so the news will be old when printed. Don't worry - it's still new to the reader. Besides, you're featuring human interest, which doesn't fade quickly.

Your second step: Attend an event and take brief notes on who, where, what, when, how, and why. Count participants. Give credit to organisers. Look for unusual twists. Listen for the cleverest printable comment. (You'll find sports stories almost writing themselves. Parties may seem all alike, so emphasise differences in themes and entertainment).

Third: Using your notes to jog your memory, write the story. Use details to help your reader get a sensory picture (mostly visual, plus sounds and smells). Use details to hint at emotions. (Were people feeling jolly? Picture them laughing, smiling, horsing around). Write freely at this stage; put in anything you please; let it flow.

Fourth: Put your story away overnight. Then read it carefully, making any changes you please. Next, edit it: remove most adjectives; replace "is" with live verbs; remove unsupported opinions; replace abstractions with examples; change first- person to third; add brief quotes from participants; add even more sights and sounds. Consider the first paragraph: does it grab? Could a more interesting image be moved up to the beginning of your story? With sports stories, delete partisanship and clarify technical jargon. For all stories, cut anything which could embarrass (including surnames, unless you're sure it's okay). Drop the Tom Wolfe putdowns which were such fun to scribble; these are your friends, remember?

In other words, write loosely and positively, then edit tightly and negatively. Some writers go so far as writing drunk and editing hung-over.

Fifth: File it away for one more night. Then you can read it aloud to a friend, seeking constructive advice. Your friend should look for points which may be unclear to a reader.

Sixth: Type it up. Or at least make a clear hand-lettered copy (since the art of clear handwriting has gone the way of silent films). Have some other person check this final copy for simple errors. Now mail it and forget it. Start your next time-table.

By taking these simple steps, one at a time, "I can't" will become "I did". And you'll get better with practice.

The bizarre 1983 Doo Dah Parade went off on schedule at Pasadena, California and again included organised nudists and free beach advocates. Several bands marched and played and at least one of them blared out "Camp Town Ladies", the Stephen Foster Doo Dah song. The parade, now in its sixth year, continues to draw larger crowds and was up to 45,000 spectators. While the Doo Dah Parade, unlike the Christmas Parade, is not televised in its entirety, it gets more television news coverage and more widespread newspaper coverage.

The parade is a satire on supposedly dignified organisations and proper community morés. This year's parade unorganiser, A. O. Cole, had announced that the parade would get under way at about noon (exactness is frowned upon) and in no particular order of march. The parade draws no rowdies and the Pasadena police need only to keep the streets clear along the route. There are no judges and no prizes but all non-commercial groups are welcomed and the zanier the merrier. The county's social rebels along with those from nearby counties are there to participate or celebrate on the sidewalks.

One hundred twenty five entries with about 3,000 marchers kept the spoof moving along for about two hours and these numbers included the not-so-eccentric ASA-WSA nudist promoters whose theme was "Net Results - All Over Tan". A volleyball net was advanced along the route from curb to curb while fully clothed and partially clothed nudists hit the ball to and fro. When a ball happened to get away somebody in the crowd became the proud owner of a marked nudist souvenir and a new ball was put into play.

The nudists, who included volunteers from Air-A-Tans, Glen Eden, Olive Dell and Beachfront, were led by the scantily clad Lady Godiva on a white horse. There were no reports of Peeping Toms being struck blind. The parade dispersed in a city park where the nudist groups set up stands to distribute naturist literature. Also given out were free copies of the ASA Bulletin and the tabloid Bare in Mind.

The nudists were treated with respect all through the day by parade viewers and were given favourable television and newspaper coverage.

Many New Zealand towns maintain public information offices for visitors and newcomers. Are these offices ready to direct travelling naturists to their local nude beaches? Do they even know which beaches are being used clothing-optionally? To find out, letters were mailed to nine cities, inquiring about naturist (clothing-optional) beaches in their areas. Here are their answers:

(1) NEW PLYMOUTH: Public Relations Office:

"Officially there is no 'clothing optional' beach around the city. Unofficially, what is termed 'Back Beach' has certainly gone topless. Even more unofficially - there is so much expanse of beach right around the coast that there are many quiet, isolated beaches where 'skinny dipping' and natural sunbathing can take place.

"The city beaches are pretty crowded - but once away from them - having not a vast population - there is space for everyone.

"There is a Naturist Club which has excellent facilities and is situated very close to the Mountain and the contact is:

Taranaki Naturist Club, P0 Box 3039, Fitzroy, New Plymouth."

(2) NAPIER: City Public Relations Office:

"There are no naturist beaches around the Napier city area, but I do believe it is acceptable at Ocean Beach."

(3) INVERCARGILL: Southland Progress League:

"We are not aware of any such beaches in this area."

(4) CHRISTCHURCH: Information Centre:

"The only contact we have is - The Canterbury Sun & Health Club, P.O. Box 1823, Christchurch."

(5) GISBORNE: Community Public Relations:

"Gisborne doesn't have any naturist beaches at all, however we do have a club which used to be the Gisborne Sun Club but which is now the Gisborne Country Club."

(6) WELLINGTON: Public Relations Office

"Unfortunately there are no naturist beaches in the Wellington area. For your information, the address of the Wellington Sun Club is PO Box 2854."

(7) WANGANUI: Hospitality Wanganui

"Regarding your letter of inquiry, naturist beaches in the Wanganui area, there are no official beaches as such."

(8) AUCKLAND REGION: Visitor & Convention Bureau

"In reply to your letter concerning information on naturist beaches in Auckland, we can inform you that we have forwarded your letter to the New Zealand Nudist Federation who we feel can answer your enquiry more fully."

(9) DUNEDIN: The Otago Council

"I have checked with the City Council and they state there are no laws as far as they are concerned regarding clothing optional beaches, for example no law stating nude bathing illegal.

"There are no set places or beaches set aside for this though."

How well did the information people do their jobs?

High marks go to New Plymouth and Napier, for actually recommending specific beaches. And Invercargill, alas, answered accurately.

Wellington, Gisborne, Christchurch and New Plymouth deserve credit for mentioning specific local sun clubs.

Auckland really dropped the ball by overlooking approximately thirty free beaches in the Auckland-Coromandel area, as listed by NZNF's Free Beach Group (P.O. Box 41171, St Lukes, Auckland). Nor did they mention any local sun clubs - not even the well-known club which was patronised by their former Mayor!

Wellington overlooked naturism at Breaker Bay, Makara Beach, and the Akatarawa River. Wanganui failed to mention Kai Iwi, Himatangi North, and Foxton Beach. Gisborne omitted Anaura Bay, Kaiaua Beach, Midway Beach, Mahanga and (yet another) Back Beach.

Down south, Christchurch ignored Waimairi Beach, Leithfield, Woodend, Waikuku, and Spencerville. Dunedin missed Purakanui, Kaikai, Ryans Bay, Victory Beach, Allans Bay and Sandfly Bay.

Public information offices exist to serve the entire public, clothist and nudist alike. Few have adequate naturist information on hand. So groups and individuals in the naturist movement need to inform the informers.

New Zealand and Australian
Club News

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC.

Never let it be said that Christmas comes but once a year. Wellington Sun Club doubled the pleasure with a mid-year Christmas dinner attended by some fifty members and friends at the Hardwick Smith Lounge in Lower Hutt. A Christmas welcome by our charming hostess, President June, and piping hot mulled wine in the reception hall set the tone of pleasures to come. Then into the dining room festively decorated in true Christmas fashion; Christmas trees, snowman, streamers and candle light.

The meal was a gastronomical delight; mushroom and asparagus soup, turkey and ham, vegetables galore, brandy-lit Christmas pudding with cream and brandy butter, cheese board and coffee. Mm! Mm! All thoughts of calories were forgotten.

Interspersed between courses we sang carols, Bevan gave a tear jerking (sic) rendition of 'The Night Before Christmas', solos were given by several talented ladies, and all was accompanied on the piano tunefully tinkled by our treasurer, Rob, and ably assisted with a scintillating trumpet background by mine host, Bevan, whose vibrant personality kept proceedings humming in top gear. And a magnificent Father Christmas paid a visit and distributed wee gifties to all present.

All praise goes to our indefatigable Social Committee whose tremendous efforts in preparation and presentation of the meal made the dinner so memorable. But little were the guests aware of the spots of 'back stage' drama overcome with superb aplomb - like the ham still being raw at 630pm (thank heavens for microwaves) and the serviettes covering the bread rolls warming in the oven catching fire. But what is life without the odd crisis!

An international touch was given to the gathering with backgrounds ranging from Holland, Austria, Australia, South Africa, Poland, Ireland, England and Kiwis of course. A visitor from Manawatu Club and a family group from Australia were made most welcome. Altogether a superb evening. Roll on Christmas!!!

GISBORNE COUNTRY CLUB LTD.

The rally this year being hosted by our club will of course be run according to the guidelines set down by the NZNF but the fact that it is not being held on a club's grounds makes it different straight away.

All those attending need to be prepared for a camping holiday, ie completely self-sufficient. There will be no electricity but there will be electric lights over the bucket showers this time, so late night ablutions need not be hit or miss! Water will be bought, as in the past, so use all you need but please don't waste it. Again, hot water will be plentiful as long as when you pass you "put another log on the fire"! The Generator People will have plenty of space so bring enough leads!

Such items as disposable napkins for babies, cold water washing powder (Surf of course) if you need to wash clothes will make life easier. Taranaki Naturist's Club used to sell those little fold away rotary clothes lines so it might be worth while asking if they are still available.

Ice can be purchased at the shop to cool chilly bins for food storage as we found trying to freeze slikka pads unsatisfactory last time. The butcher will come each day so there shouldn't be any worries about storing meat. Milk services are the same.

To those who do not feel like cooking on New Year's Eve a hangi will be available on the grounds. Tickets will be sold at the shop up to the 30th at the price of $5.00. Having partaken of these meals I would suggest a dieting Mum or Dad could easily share a meal with their children.

For evening entertainment you will need to bring your own seating so camp chairs, stools or cushions will be handy. There might be some logs but not enough to go around. On one afternoon there will be a stall where the hobbyists can show and/or sell their efforts so you creative people bring along your creations. Matchbox collectors might find some swaps.

There are a couple of interesting walkways close to Tolaga Bay so bring good walking shoes those who are interested. Neither walkway is very long or arduous. One is flat all the way.

Because of the rural situation at Tolaga Bay, no dogs can be allowed.

We remind parents that they are fully responsible for their children at all times.

Just a footnote: Gisborne Country Club is hosting this rally on land leased for the occasion and have all rights reserved.

If there are points not covered in our newsletters, or any inquiries, please write to the: Rally Organiser, Box 391, Gisborne.

See you there.

ROTOTA SUN CLUB

Roll on summer - not that we can really complain about the weather around our way - although winter is not really conducive to the envisaged Sun Club scene.

Apart from monthly meetings and socials - a few participated in a trip to North Shore - I am pleased to say that Gisborne will see a larger number of Rotota members than usual at their cabaret. The busy season with working bees etc is fast approaching and I guess we are all enjoying the break. More club socials are coming up in future months and hopefully there will be a few more enlightened people around our way when club president talks to Rotarians in August.

Unusual for this time of the year the Club is still managing to attract new members. Hopefully this will continue into the "sun" season.

We are all looking forward to a great season in all ways. Hope to see many of you down our way.

NORTHERN SUN SEEKERS INC.

Well, we have met early in July for a business-cum-social meeting at our President's home. There was a very good gathering and after the business side of things, we spent a few hours at darts, pool, and cards, in which everyone joined at one stage or another. Some of us need a long practice at throwing darts as it is not as simple as it looks. There were some learners too at the pool table but it was all great fun.

During our formal business session the question of advertising for next season was brought forward. It can be an expensive item in the budget! We thought of continuing to put articles in the two local papers while perhaps using a large, hoarding affair on the side of strategic roads to put ourselves on the map. Whatever comes, we are all looking forward to the next season with much relish.

HAWKES BAY SUN CLUB

Our winter hasn't really arrived, so as the sun shines on, members make use of it.

The sports afternoon held in May was a lot of fun. Throwing tennis balls to a distance of nearly 32 metres for our senior men to 11.5 metres obtained by our junior girl.

Rolling pin throwing doesn't occur our way but it did on the day, being thrown nearly 22 metres.

Sauna and spa night will be on the list very soon when winter arrives.

Three couples from the club visited and had dinner with a local Jaycees Club. It is hoped a feedback will come from this.

As we are in the country we had a combined night at our club with the country and western club.

A sense of humour, plus whatever else was required for our Polar Bear swim. At least the sun was shining, so that did help.

AOHC

Hullo once again from AOHC. Yes, we are back, having missed the previous publication, with a short resume on some of the activities which have occurred at "Oranui" during our winter months.

Back in May when our AGM was held it was pleasing to see a good attendance of members and furthermore, especially heartening to see new members willing to take office.

One special function which preceded the meeting was the presentation to several members who were recipient of 25 year certificates by our club Patron Sir Dove Meyer Robinson.

On Easter Saturday our clubrooms were transformed into a mediaeval period and what a night it was. 100 members relived those boisterous times. There were Village Idiots, Town Criers, Trappist Monks, Knights of Old, Jesters and of course, numerous Serving Wenches. It was a colourful occasion in which feasting and jolly banter lasted well into the night.

Two small caravan clubs which visited our grounds last year have returned for weekend stays. They were Akarana a Rangitoto plus another group called Aotea for the first time.

Works this year are being carried out on our top field for further caravans. They include a toilet block complex with shower facilities, underground power and water. In conjunction with this development some 32 large pines are being felled along our back boundary. It will increase the hours of sunlight to the area considerably.

We had a very successful "Arbor Day" this year planting 20 native trees on the property. Thanks to all who assisted on the day.

SOUTH CANTERBURY SUN CLUB

Hi! Thought we had better write a note just to let everybody know our club is alive and well.

The past few years have been spent establishing the club's grounds and at long last the trees and shrubs are starting to thrive and offer shelter and privacy to our members. A barbeque has been built and our lime-clay miniten court has had some good use by our more energetic members.

A water pump has been installed to keep our water supply tank full and a shower has been connected. to this tank for all those hardy souls wishing to take a cold shower after a long day in the South Canterbury Sunshine.

We have several get togethers over the winter months and are now looking forward to a long warm summer.

Over recent months we have had several overseas visitors who have donated shrubs and trees.

WANGANUI SUN CLUB

The busy little club in the River City has had plenty going on during the winter months with members visiting Manawatu Club for their winter swim and to play them at ten pin bowls. Also on the local scene the Saturday night saunas have kept members in touch each week; the winter sports day for members to have a chance of meeting both our members and other clubs' members.

Also there were other functions like the film day at the club, but the big one is coming up in October when the club holds its social where not only are other club members to be made very welcome but friends and others interested in having a grand evening with such friendly folk. It is hoped we will see plenty of friends on October 27th, it will be a country and western evening.

It has been an annual event for a number of years now to open the summer activities at the club with a Guy Fawkes night bonfire. This year will see the event held on November 3rd. On this Saturday there will be a judging of guys with something for the winning child then the usual fire and fireworks. Why not join us and come on children, try and enter a winning Guy.

December 15th is another day for the young ones when Father Xmas pays the club a visit. Visitors are welcome and after an enjoyable day the children will sure to settle well in bed while the adults get on with a fun social in the club house that evening.

Many visitors were pleasantly surprised with the beauty and tranquility of the Wanganui Club when they came to the hangi after the last rally. Well, by popular request we have decided to hold another hangi on January 20th. Spend a pleasant weekend with us as there is plenty of camping space and we have all the usual facilities in our all electric club house. Speak to others who were at the hangi after the rally and we are sure they would advise you not to miss this event. Better still it is still the school holidays so if you could not get away for the rally, well take your holiday our way as Wanganui District has plenty to offer.

Some time this summer the busy little River City Club hopes to see most people at our club as we have so much going on and we are a friendly lot. See you all at the rally at Tolaga Bay, if not sooner.

MANAWATU SUNSEEKERS CLUB INC.

The experience of hosting the recent N.Z.N.F. Half A.G.M. has left behind a legacy of a few extra grey hairs on some heads. Never the less, we thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, especially so, following the expressions of thanks from so many of the delegates. The Fitzherbert lounge was a very comfortable spot for the meeting itself, while reports indicate that any old venue was a successful one for the various impromptu social events that just happened. We hope you enjoyed yourselves, thanks for coming.

With the experience now behind us, you just might be able to persuade us to repeat the performance. Strangely, even though club social activity was temporarily suspended during the time, having worked together on it has made us a much closer group.

We had our Polar Bear swim early July, warmed somewhat by a considerate few hours of sunshine, a large pot of piping hot mulled wine, and some soup and barbecued bangers. Quite delightful seeing bare bodies sitting around chatting outdoors in mid-winter.

We're taking our sister club in Wanganui on with a fun evening of ten pin bowls in early August. It promises to be an exciting event, I wonder who will be left licking their wounds?

Oh yes, we are still alive here in Palmerston North, and already looking forward to hot days and blazing sunshine when the inconvenience of this temporary cold snap turns once more to summer, and we lay our hot tub to rest for better things.

NEW ZEALAND CLUB DIRECTORY

The secretaries of these clubs will be pleased to hear from genuine inquirers. Please enclose return postage.

new zealand

naturist

incorporating australian nudist news

No. 110 September 1984

The New Zealand Naturist is the Official Journal published quarterly by the New Zealand Nudist' Federation Inc. Registered at the Chief Post Office Wellington as a magazine.

Editor:

Graeme Brown

Typesetting and Artwork by:

Ad Service, P.O. Box 22271, Otahuhu

Printed by:

Howick Press Ltd.

P.O. Box 38-065.

Howick.

Distributed by:

Gordon and Gotch (NZ) Ltd

(Top)

AUSTRALIAN NUDIST CLUB DIRECTORY

This magazine is protected by copyright, no part of it may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photographic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the editor.

In our desire to present different points of view we publish articles and letters which do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editor.

All correspondence should be addressed to:

P.O. Box 2925,
AUCKLAND.
NEW ZEALAND

General inquiries concerning nudism in New Zealand, or overseas, should be addressed to the:-

New Zealand
Nudist Federation Incorporated
P.O. Box 957. AUCKLAND.
NEW ZEALAND

Applications for membership of clubs should be made direct to the club secretary (See Club Directory)

PHOTO CREDITS

Leif Heilberg

   I.F.C., F.C., B.C.

P Legg

   P 5.

Doug Cousins

   P 7, P 12, P15, P16, P18.

Freddy Karstensen

   P9, I.B.C.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS:

Nudist Association of
Victoria,*

15 Cuthbertson St.
Broadmeadows 3047

Nudist Association
of Queensland,*

P.O. Box 442,
Woodridge QId 4114.

NOTE: The clubs marked with an asterisk (*) above are affiliated with the Australian Nudist Federation.

DEADLINES FOR COPY

111 December 1984 - 1st Oct 1984

112 March 1985 - 30th Jan 1985

113 June 1985 - 20th April 1985

114 September 1985 - 15th July 85