The NZNF bi-monthly supplement
May - June 1989
Baring All -
Feedback from Wellington newspaper readers
In days of old when women went swimming they dressed like Old Mother Hubbard - nowadays they dress more like her cupboard. Contact's (Wellington's Community Newspaper) call for reader's responses on changing the law relating to beach nudity several weeks ago, has provoked replies both amusing and alarming.
The call for public opinion came originally from the Standards Association of New Zealand who were reviewing the beach dress standard. We might add that our very own Tony Wilson, President of Free Beach Group had much to do with this call for public opinion by writing his letter which appeared in both the last issue of the Naturist and In-Touch.
A majority of letter writers thought it was okay to bare all at the beach. Those opposing were often vehement in their opposition.
Space constraints make it impossible to publish all the letters, so the following is a sample of responses:
"Yes it's okay to bare all on local beaches. I would extend this to local parks and bush reserves."
"Hundreds of thousands of Europeans enjoy the freedom to go nude... even Spain is following suit (or non-suit) after the restrictive Franco regime. Why should New Zealanders always be among the last adherents of stuffy conformity?"
"Swimming in the nude feels great,"
"People who find nudity offensive shouldn't have to by-pass nude bathers around the city... but perhaps we could have designated beaches up the coast or on outer extremities of the harbour."
"Most of the laws relating to decency in this country are related to the rich classes and clergymen of Victorian England...
An opinion poll should be conducted to find out what the majority thinks."
"No exhibitionist or deliberately obscene behaviour at any beach would be tolerated of anybody whether or not the person was clothed or unclothed. The human body is not obscene - it is the behaviour accompanying such dress or undress which can be obscene."
And of those against...
"It will do nothing to improve the scenery. It will bring out the perverts and possibly increase the incidence of rape...
By all means provide one or two beaches for genuine nudists but leave the majority of the beaches for normal family people."
"...few would have Adonis and Venus figures, the beginning to age figure is not exactly the body beautiful. I feel concern over the number of 'everything revealed' children seen at parks and beaches.
A little bit of mystery is still there!" (Woman writer)
"Having been molested as a child, I would not like my daughter, 12 to be naked on a beach with the possibility of attracting this sort of attention. Nor would I like my husband to see her naked."
"Are you trying to increase unemployment by making swimming costumes, shorts and bikinis redundant?"
More ideas from our local newspaper to help you with your letter writing campaign. If you haven't written yet... do it now.
Each day is a bonus...
President John of Rosco Club, Australia lost his wife Maureen while holidaying at the Tindo Club in South Australia recently. Maureen suffered a heart attack whilst on site.
President Ann Cropper writes in Tindo Tidings:
"The spirit of unity, always there but never so evident as when tragedy strikes, will carry John and his family through this difficult time.
All this sadness makes one think and reflect upon how lucky we all are and how futile the odd personal difference of opinion is.
Perhaps we can all learn from the latest catch phrase... 'Dont Worry .. Be Happy', adding a further thought that each day is a bonus."
I wonder if this arouses undue emotions which lead to sexual abuse in one form or another. So no baring all. A bit much to bare!"
"Nudity on a public beach with strangers is offensive. Our freedom to enjoy the beautiful surroundings are violated when totally naked women brush past us (and this has happened on occasion)... There have been few complaints because the police have more serious crimes to attend to than apprehending nude bathers."
"I feel embarrassed and think that women look great in bikinis if their bodies suit them.
Polar Bare Swim Weekend
Venue - Palmerston North Club
Date - 24-25 June
Cost - $5 adult, $2 young Member under 12.
Details: Brass monkey dip 3pm Saturday followed by hot soup, happy hour Din-Dins, Christmas Puddings and games evening. Sauna at the YMCA on the Sunday.
More Details from Alan Morrison on (063)64446
Hot Pool Weekend
Venue - Fernland Hot Pools, Tauranga
Date - 20 - 21 May
Cost - Nominal
Details: An annual event organised by the Ro-To-Ta Club (not Bay Of Plenty as stated in last In-Touch). Accommodation available.
More details from Graham Macgregor on (075) 86-693
Dear Roy,
What are you doing to me???
The invitation to the May 20 Hot Pool Weekend came from the Ro-To-Ta Club not the BOP Club. Already there have been some worried questions from Waikato Club that the BOP have taken us over.
Everything is set up and ready to go - there are people booked from Auckland, Hamilton and Thames with enquiries from Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.
Should be another good one.
Smile it's a lovely day!
Regards Graham Macgregor
Barely Worth Mentioning
A newly married young man was asked by his wife to call at a store in town and purchase a bra for her.
He forgot to ask his wife what size she required, and asked the girl behind the counter, if she could assist him.
"Well we stock three kinds" she informed him. "The Totalitarian, designed for the suppression of the masses, the Salvation Army, designed for the uplift of the fallen and the Political Agitator designed to make mountains out of molehills.
From Waikato's newsletter
Diary Notes
19-21 May
Ro-To-Ta Hot Pool Weekend Tauranga
Queens Birthday Weekend - June 2-5
NZNF Seminar hosted by Canterbury Club
24-25 June
Polar Bear Swim, Din-Dins and Sauna weekend at Palmerston North Club
IN-TOUCH
Edited by Roy Cox and published by the New Zealand Nudist Federation, 123 Hill Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt New Zealand All correspondence to this address.
Around the Clubs
The Canterbury Club have been promoting the Free Beach concept recently with a well organised trip for 42 members to the beach. "Can we get another trip in before the weather changes?" said many of the trippers. The answer was a defmite yes from the organisers.
It appears the club has a full list of nominations for positions at the AGM. I hope all the other clubs can boast the same at their AGM.
"Windfalls", newsletter of the Orchard Club, (Hope they have an orchard on their new grounds too!!) have unofficially had their housewarming party and must have been gluttons for punishment. They celebrated until the "wee small hours" and then held a committee meeting later that morning. Editor Phulippa reports about her husbands appearance at the meeting, "I've never seen anything look so green and still have a pulse." Hope you have recovered now Peter.
Palmerston North Club thanked their members for making the National rally a success by organising and sponsoring a party which included food, drink and entertainment. Nice touch Palmerston club.
Waikato Outdoor have had their setbacks since Christmas with the burning down of their new clubhouse and several batches. In late March they lost one of their keenest members. Stan Howell, member of the club for more than 22 years died on 24 March. Waikato's April newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Stan with messages and memories from members who knew him well. To Muriel his wife, our thoughts are with you at this special time.
Auckland Outdoor celebrate their 40th birthday in August. Their veterans miniten competitions were held recently, total of 48 games played, and summed up by players as follows. "A great day and the most exciting AOHC miniten tournament to date".
"It was a pleasure to see the youth clearing the site for their clubhouse with the assistance of some adults" writes Secretary Wilma in "Tindo Tidings" the South Australian club in the Barrossa Valley. It's good to see the youth of some Australasian clubs moving so well. But it's not without the hard work which some of our youth of today are not quite so familiar with. Tindo youth collect bottles, run trading tables and wash cars just to mention a few activities which help them fund their ambitious projects. Of course it also helps to have a keen young member leader like Corrine and her enthusiastic team. Well done Tindo young members. Lets see more of it in other clubs.
It's always interesting to read the Free Beach Group newsletter. It's full of information. But the thing that impresses me most about Free Beach is that everything doesn't stop when the summer ends. Something that most of our clubs and members in particular, overlook or forget when Autumn arrives. We appear to have a fixation about Clubs = Sun and when the sun doesn't shine, then there is no point going "up the club" or keeping in touch with fellow members.
The North Shore Sun Club has changed its name to the Hibiscus Coast Sun Club. Their address is Box 128 Orewa.
And fmally a thought for committee members especially editors of club newsletters. I feel there is a correlation between reading some of the personal things that happen to club members and the friendliness of clubs. Like birthdays, weddings, outside achievements, hospitalisation. etc.
