# 118 - September 1986 

The things people say...

Recently the "South Auckland Courier" ran a feature on the South Auckland Sun Club. A young and pretty reporter named Julie arrived, accompanied by a young man festooned with cameras.

A couple of weeks later, one of the Sun Club members Julie had interviewed called at the editorial offices of the "Courier" with a routine enquiry. The member, incidentally, was old enough to be Julie's father and almost old enough to be her grandfather.

He ran Julie to earth in a roomful of people all going about their business of preparing "copy" for the next issue. Contrary to popular belief concerning newspaper editorial offices, the room was comparatively quiet.

When the visitor walked over to her desk and said, "Hello, Julie," she looked at him blankly. It was only when he mentioned the name of the club, speaking quietly so as not to disturb the other workers, that the penny dropped.

"Oh, of course!" Julie exclaimed in clear and ringing tones that reached the four corners of the room. "Sorry, but I didn't recognise you with your clothes on!"

Needless to say, the editorial office erupted into a gale of laughter. It is not known whether Julie has yet lived the incident down.

(If you have any similarly amusing incidents you would like to share with other readers, please send them in. Provided they're not downright obscene the Editor will be pleased to print them.)

P
O
R
N
O
G
R
A
P
H
Y

Yes, pornography. That's what I'm "on about" this time. (I thought it would make you sit up!)

To be specific, alleged "pornography" in the N.Z. Naturist.

Most of the letters complaining about the "obscene" pictures in the magazine come from cranks, and the Editor publishes them solely for their amusement value. The odd ones, however, are written by sincere naturists, often club members, who are genuinely concerned about what they see as a tendency towards lewdness in the choice of illustrations.

It is to this latter category of readers, in the hope that it may set their minds at rest once and for all, that this article is addressed.

The complaints are almost always about the posed "girlie" glamour shots which are obviously not "genuine" naturist photographs. But there are good reasons for their inclusion and it's high time that everybody knew what the cold, hard facts are.

For a start, the magazine to be attractive MUST have a BALANCE of words and pictures. (That should be self-evident.) The trouble is, it can't get enough authentic nudist photos. Most naturists are unwilling to have nude studies of themselves printed in a publication that will appear on every newsstand in the country - including their own home town. And can you blame them?

Genuine naturists aren't ashamed to admit to being nudists, if asked. But most of them don't shout it from the rooftops - nor proclaim it by offering their undraped bodies for inspection by thousands of "bookshop browsers". They may acknowledge the courage of the few dedicated ones who allow their pictures to be used, but they're not prepared to join them. And it's perfectly understandable.

So that's hard fact number one. Some commercial glamour shots HAVE to be used to fill the pages. (Occasionally, to the Editor's delight, there ARE enough club pictures, resulting from big events like the National Rally - as in issue No. 116 - but these occasions are rare.)

Make no mistake, selecting suitable commercial pictures is no easy task. lf you could sit in on an Editorial meeting you'd see why. It's because the Editorial team leans over backwards to exclude any picture which is evenly remotely "suggestive". And that means rejecting at least 90% of everything the commercial photographers send them. (One of these days, I'll try and persuade the Editor to print just one of the rejected pictures he gets, to show you what I mean. Some of them would make your socks roll up and down of their own accord.)

But there's also Hard Fact Number 2, something which CANNOT be ignored: The magazine sales.

Each issue sells, on average, around 5500 copies. Of this slightly more than one-quarter go to club members and postal subscribers. OVER 4000 COPIES are sold in the shops throughout New Zealand and Australia. Without AT LEAST this level of "public" sales, the New Zealand Naturist would go bankrupt.

Right. Now, just WHO buys these 4000 copies off the newsstands? A handful of privately-practising (i.e., non- club-member) naturists, perhaps. But the rest, the vast majority of purchasers from the shops? Have no illusions as to who they are - the Editorial team hasn't. They are part of the considerable proportion of the male population who simply enjoy looking at attractively-posed pictures of pretty girls in the nude.

Over the years, the Editor has heard all the arguments. That there is no need to "pander" to the tastes of "this kind of reader". That the Naturist has no need to "debase" itself by trying to join the ranks of the "girlie" magazines. That this particular market is already adequately catered for by Playboy, Penthouse and similar publications.

"Adequately?" Don't you believe it! There is a continual and unceasing demand for an unlimited supply of ever new, ever-different female nude studies. The market is there. And even if the Naturist published JUST ONE picture of a female nude, it would find itself catering for the market WHETHER IT LIKED IT OR NOT.

So what's the solution? Cut out ALL the "girlie" pictures, and even censor the genuine naturist photos? You don't need me to tell you what would happen. First, a scream of protest would go up from just about every naturist in the country - and rightly so. And second, bookshop sales would take a nose-dive and the magazine would be out of business.

The Editor has no control over who buys the magazine. What is more, he simply cannot AFFORD to ignore the fact that, so long as he continues to produce a publication that will please all sincere naturists with pictures of open, unashamed nudity, then, for every copy bought by a naturist, THREE copies will be bought by other classes of readers. THUS KEEPING THE MAGAZINE IN BUSINESS.

Personally, I think the Editor does a wonderful job. He never fails to maintain a perfect balance between amateur and professional photographs, and always in good taste. The Naturist is, and always will be, perfectly suitable for family reading by all ages.

A final word, to those courageous and dedicated naturists who permit the publication of pictures of themselves. Please don't be put off by what I have said, although I don't think you will be. I think you are the very ones who are already fully aware of the mixed nature of the readership of the magazine.

Knowing this, you still send in your pictures. Please keep on sending them. You have the gratitude of the entire Editorial team.

Editor's Note:

As a footnote to the above, readers might be interested to read the following text of a proposed advertisement in the N.Z. Naturist, which was received from an overseas source.

The advertisement was declined as it was considered unsuitable for publication.

"TOP GUYS Hundreds of colour photos of nude handsome young guys for all tastes. Send NZ$2.00 or equivalent for catalogue and details."

Well we have been and gone and done it again. Not midwinter madness, but May Mayhem. Fernland hot pool in Tauranga booked, letters to clubs sent, lots of phone calls, and good weather expected.

The day dawned with a frost, followed by fine and warm by the time we all arrived at the pool. I think the older ones had as much fun as the children fighting for the ball, and it's just as well I wrapped a towel around me before retrieving it from over the fence. Why did I get those funny looks? Everyone seemed content to lunch, soak, swim, play, sun and socialise as they wished. The count was 69 adults and 24 children, and still room for more (coming next year?) As Marg (Rotota) said: "I wonder what the rich people are doing at the moment."

About 45 came home for a potluck dinner. I had left a note on the door, Come on in!", and then automatically locked it and I went to the pool. More strange looks, and comments. Musical chairs were performed all evening, and I'm sure some stood all the time. Marg and her guitar entertained with Rusty on the accordion. When everyone was mellowed by music and wine Tom gave instructions for a performance of - the bird dance. Harvey Farms look out! I don't know who had more fun, the performers, the audience, or my neighbours. If you haven't seen it, ask Tom (Rotota) for a demo. Bed was after midnight and no problems next morning, except strange looks from one of the neighbours!

Another well supported and well received function. The club profited from three raffles - 2 prizes won by BOP and one by WOS members. People came from Rotota, BOPSC, WOS, plus three from supporter group, one family from Auckland (AOHC) and one from Wanganui (WSC).

Again we have been invited back by the pool owners (who commented on how well behaved the children were - us big ones too?) so pencil in on your calendar next year, end of May school holidays. I may have my house extended, or at least strengthened by then!

I enjoyed the weekend; my thanks to all those who made it happen, Social contact between clubs out of the summer season is possible, is good fun, and I think is valuable to the nudist movement.

Club
Diary

The Club Diary lists the dates of special functions, at which visitors from other Clubs will be warmly welcomed. If you are contemplating an out-of-town trip, the Diary is invaluable. With each subsequent issue of the Naturist, the first three months of the Diary are deleted and the next three included, thus maintaining a constant list of 10 months' forward planning.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

This is an attempt to help readers to understand what nudist clubs are all about. Readers will be aware from the club news columns what the general idea of nudism is about, but there are many aspects of club life and nudism generally that I know members take for granted. It is these things that I will try to concentrate upon. Of course these thoughts express my own personal views and experiences, and particularly, life at the Wellington Sun Club.

What is a nudist club? It is a place where people go to relax and get away from their everyday lives. To put off the sham which society puts upon itself. Basically people join nudist clubs to be themselves. When people want to relax they like to do different things. Thus at nudist clubs some people just bask in the sun all day with the occasional dip in the pool - what nudist club would be complete without a swimming pool or river to cool off in? Other people are more energetic and make use of the sporting facilities - the miniten courts, the volleyball court, the trampoline etc. The children naturally make use of the playground equipment which most clubs have. Nudist clubs are essentially family based organisations and children are natural nudists.

It is very hard to describe in words how particularly relaxing it is to doff your clothes out in the fresh air and sunshine, but that is the nudist experience. Perhaps it is because it is so hard to be pretentious without the trappings of civilisation. I won't try to explain it further, it's just great. Any readers who have swum in the nude will have some idea what I mean.

Clubs have a wide range of facilities depending mainly on how large they are and how long they have been established. The item of highest priority is somewhere to swim. A swim without clinging togs is a marvellous experience. Next, clubs seem to go for games courts and camping facilities.

The Wellington club has a volleyball court, two miniten courts, about 50 powered campsites, many un-powered ones, and of course the associated toilets and ablution blocks. We also have a large club hall. (For the uninitiated, miniten is a form of tennis played to the normal tennis rules but on a smaller court with a double-sided wooden bat.)

A communal barbeque is the focal point for many a friendly evening gathering as the sun sets. To have 20 to 30 people around ours is common. One of the times I enjoy being a nudist the most is in the middle of summer when I can leave work, get up to the club, throw off my jacket, tie and everything else, and dive into a refreshing pool. After that my wife Joan and I, with the kids, have a barbeque tea before going home again about 8 o'clock. It is often thought that nudist clubs meet only at certain times and are very regimented. The opposite is the truth.

Members of all clubs come and go whenever they wish, some just visit during the day, some stay for the whole weekend, or even for weeks during their holidays.

No sun club would be complete without a special area for the children to play. Our club has swings, slides, seesaws, a fort, a trampoline, etc, the usual things you find at any kid's playground.

If the above sounds like a description of a typical New Zealand motor camp then that is not surprising. The only difference, and advantage, of our place is that you don't have to wear clothes. And what a great advantage that is.

Who joins nudist clubs? All sorts of people from all walks of life. Once you are at a nudist club nobody cares how you earn your living - at least not until working bee time when specialist skills are seized upon, similarly nobody cares what age you are or what shape your body is. That is perhaps the hardest thing for outsiders to understand, especially women who are brought up to think that unless they are a Venus de Milo they should keep their bodies hidden. There seems to be a misconception that nudist clubs are populated by young, health conscious, physically fit, beautiful people. Nothing is further from the truth. Nudist club members are a cross-section of the population, from the tiniest of tots to the oldest of grandparents. Members' bodies are short and tall, fat and thin, tanned and patchy, unblemished and scarred, whatever. This may be a surprise to some people and a reassurance to those people who would like to try our way of life but think they would be embarrassed by some self-perceived deficiency in their body. At a club nobody cares what shape or size you are, or whether you have a large scar right across your stomach. You will be accepted for the person you are. So come on all you people who have held back from visiting a club because you thought you would be embarrassed by your body. Come and see for yourself that nudists are normal people who have discovered a fantastic way of life.

As a final reassurance to those in doubt about visiting a club, no club that I know of, certainly not our club, requires visitors and prospective members to strip off as soon as they walk in the gate. If it is a cool day you will find most of the members dressed anyway. It is quite accepted that some people may need to make more than one visit before they feel confident enough to undress completely. Other people visiting for the first time find that they are embarrassed because they are dressed, and once they have got into "club uniform" they are completely at home. It seems that once people, especially women, realise that at a nudist club the mystique about the opposite sex is quickly removed, then a lot of the fears disappear.

So come on 'Give it a go', you have a lot to gain.

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB

Life in Wellington is relatively quiet at the moment, certainly not nudist weather unless you have a tough skin. This hasn't stopped the solid core of our members getting up to our grounds for working bees. Already much has been accomplished in getting the grounds ready for the rally. There is still a fair bit to do, but some of the big jobs will have to wait until spring.

We will let up the pressure shortly though by allowing members an afternoon's relaxation at the new computerised tenpin bowling centre. By the time you read this that happy afternoon and our mid-winter Christmas dinner will have been and gone. The latter promises to be a particularly enjoyable evening. I am sure June and Bevan will live up to their reputation for putting on a marvellous show.

Our club would be interested in any ideas that other clubs can offer on how to prevent vandalism. We have been suffering heavily over the past few months, with windows being the main targets. I guess that is one of the disadvantages of being on the fringe of the urban area.

We look forward to seeing many of you in Wellington at Christmas. We promise you a great time.

HAWKES BAY SUN CLUB

After a beautiful and sunny and warm autumn, winter is really with us now with cold and wet weather. However many working bees are still in full swing. The games court is covered with concrete at last after many years of fundraising.

Groups of hard working volunteers recently worked two weekends to cut down pine trees to be sold to the mill.

A brave few of our members joined up with other clubs in June to visit the Palmerston North Sun Club for their annual Polar Bare Swim, however only our Shirley was game enough to join other hardy people in the water, good on you Shirley. We thank Palmerston North again for their hospitality, friendly atmosphere and marvellous dinner.

Last week 20 of our own members met at the Hastings R.S.A. and enjoyed the meal and the dance. It's good to stay in contact over the winter months outside the club grounds, the winter does not seem to be that long then.

By the time you read this, September is with us and the days are getting warmer. We hope to see many visitors. from other clubs to join us over the summer, so we can meet up again with old friends and make new ones.

SOUTH AUCKLAND SUN CLUB

News Flash!

Our pool hasn't flooded this winter! We still have a swimming pool with water-coloured water in it, not yucky brown sludge. The protecting dyke we built is certainly doing its job, and it makes winter maintenance of the grounds a lot easier.

The extension to our building is coining along nicely, and by the time this goes to print, should be well on the way to completion.

Our social calendar is also alive and well. Last month's get-together at the home of a member was a great success, with a good attendance by members. Our host's spa pool to the rear of the house was in great demand for relaxation, and also becoming squeaky-clean, in one easy step. Towards the end of the evening some bubble-bath was added to see what would happen. Have you ever seen foam three feet high?

A pyjama party is planned for this month (July). Should be fun, if a little chilly, as most of us wear our club suits to bed.

Our social secretary and committee members are getting geared up for our "In The Pink" social and dance on the night of September 9. A prize is offered for the best pink attire; it should be interesting! We hope to get a good turnout from the other clubs in the district. We're all certainly looking forward to a good night out. Hope to see you there!

(I did tell you our pool hasn't flooded this winter, didn't I?)

AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.

Hello to you once more from Murray Glade. With winter well and truly upon us things are rather quiet around our Sun Club. The exception being our very successful midwinter Christmas dinner, which even enticed Santa to make a brief appearance.

In August we had a games night and pot luck dinner to keep in touch with our members over the cold winter months.

Labour Weekend will see many of our club members heading for the sunny north at Ararua for a camping weekend. Hopefully this will be the start of our summer tan.

Also over the winter months many hours of volunteer labour has helped in bringing our club house closer to completion. Front steps have been built, toilets upgraded, the roof has been painted and the inside lining has been started.

We are all looking forward to the summer sun and the Wellington Rally.

CANTERBURY SUN CLUB

At the time of writing this we are passing through a particularly cold weather period which has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of our stalwart members. Perhaps we are still basking in the glory of having held such a highly successful Rally at the New Year. We thank you Doug Ball for the comments made in your opening paragraph of your article concerning dress, in the June issue, and we note your further comments. Following upon a South Island Seminar held at C.S.C. during Queen's Birthday weekend, our president Norm has come out strongly on briefing those members who failed to attend on the nature of the club we belong to i.e. A Nudist Club. A point worth continually keeping in our minds.

Our AGM held 25th May gave a packed clubhouse an opportunity for sharing club involvement. The recently elected committee has already demonstrated a keenness to get on with planning a full year of activities. Those members who visited during the Rally must have noticed the excellent condition of our grounds and the newly painted buildings. Now our energetic Long Term Planning Committee has come up with a list of projects which will enhance our grounds and buildings even more so and the committee has already set in progress those items which finance permits, and intends to follow through on the remaining recommendations. Has anyone a spare million they wish to donate to a worthy cause? A major task of removing one line of pine trees from alongside the driveway adjacent to Trevor's Park has been completed and screening cypress trees are now being planted as a replacement. Our roadways have been upgraded with compacted fine gravel on some surfaces. So many improvements to all the club amenities, completed and intended, are only possible because of a team of hard working members: a tremendous club strength.

Ten brave souls took the mid-winter plunge into the swimming pool on the shortest day and as a result the Commonwealth Games Fund benefited to the tune of $53.00. None so brave...

Planning is well in hand for our Annual Ball which is to be held in a local hall this month and we shall be reporting on its success in the next issue. Meanwhile we wonder if Canterbury has a "first" to its credit. At the AGM a motion was passed that all future social functions held in our clubrooms would be smoke free: a definite advance in the health aspect of nudism.

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB INC.

A.O.H.C. has had a terrific summer this year. As usual many families spent their summer holidays at the club. The swimming pool, which was painted last spring, was particularly appreciated during the hot summer.

There was plenty of entertainment organised. New Year's Eve and disco was packed out, with the overflow having to sit outside. The Car Rally nearly got washed away in a torrential downpour that resulted in the grounds being flooded again, but everyone got back safely after an enjoyable afternoon. The children had their VERSION as a "Walk Rally" around the club grounds. Eight teams competed in an adults Quadrathon of miniten, volleyball, indoor bowls and charades - the children's Quadrathon substituted tennikoits for volleyball. The children played their games a lot more seriously than the adults did.

Swimming sports, several miniten tournaments including a veteran's for the over 40 year olds. Top team (our version of Top Town) was played with high spirits despite the dull day. Several impromptu indoor bowls tournaments, were played by the "experts" in the club so that often most bowls "fell off" the mat.

Unfortunately our sports weekend was cancelled due to the weather, but when it turned out fine on the Monday, we played a round robin volleyball tournament.

The Easter banquet this year was a fancy dress for the maiden voyage of the SS Oranui - well presented as usual.

Construction of the Village Green at the bottom of the Top Paddock Caravan Park has given a focal point for many campers. Many noise barbecues have been held there over the summer months.

In February about 70 members deserted A.O.H.C. for a weekend camping at Uretiti Beach. Good weather resulted in some pink bodies. The days were finished off around the campfire singing, telling tall stories and playing charades.

Teenagers: A big group has patronised their "Drop In" this year, despite the area being flooded again (the building has now been moved to higher ground). Besides joining in with the organised competitions, they arranged trips to the beach, hot pools, ice skating and many others.

Recently our grounds were used as the headquarters for a search and rescue operation by the Police. A helicopter made an historic landing on our main lawn during the operation.

Remember A.O.H.C. will be hosting the 87/88 Rally. Plans are already underway for same.

Why is it that the New Zealand Naturist could not dare to try to compete with the International H&E? Are New Zealanders, Naturists in particular, so very backward? Volume 87 No. 4 of H&E has some fifty posed photographs contained within its covers. Articles with a bit of thought provoking meat in them, headlines on the cover that catch the eye.

The Naturist in the other hand sits on the shelf at a few newsagents looking exactly like it is. "The official" quarterly of the New Zealand Nudist Federation. How can this publication help to promote nudism in New Zealand?

As a whole, New Zealanders have more hang-ups than most other countries. The average New Zealand naturist is ashamed to let it be publicly known that they participate in any such activities when they should be proud of the fact that they are prepared to lead a natural life and enjoy the body that they have been blessed with.

We plant flowers, a form of natural beauty, in the front of our houses for all to see, but then turn around and hide the most beautiful thing known to mankind: the human body; under layers of clothes. We ensure that our perspiration is held against our body to reduce its natural attractiveness and in this manner we abuse these gifts that we are born with.

All men and women enjoy looking at the human body posed in a variety of states, natural, erotic and in between, but most are not prepared to admit this fact. The H&E displays a variety of photographs to cover the range of tastes and if one looks at the dog-eared state of the back issues at any sun club, confirmation of what the reader desires in a magazine can quickly be gained by comparing this with the hardly read Naturist sitting in the pile alongside.

Reader services, commonly called advertisements, as good as non-existent in the Naturist are catered for under a variety of headings in H&E. The nature of these advertisements also portrays another area of the New Zealander's ignorance as shown by their attitude of burying their heads in the sand or being too ashamed to express their true feelings.

Most people take only a small amount of persuasion to pose for a photograph in the nude or semi-nude and are flattered to think that their body is good enough to be captured on film. Once a person has posed privately it is not a big step for them to pose for publication and from there the standard of the Naturist can be raised to a magazine which will be capable of increasing the membership of our sun clubs.

Dear Sir,

Notice to all beneficiaries of Geyserland Leisure Park Trust: G.L.P Ltd is alive and well, and making slow, steady progress! As noted in the last report (Naturist 113 - June 86) Rotota Club and G.L.P. directors have agreed that the area previously leased (and developed) by Rotota is stage 1 of overall development. The club is the working group under the policies and administrative company umbrella - nuclear free but not blocking the sun!

By taking over the company debt to save the G.L.P. concept, the Rotata Club put itself into a dicey situation. The mortgage has now been refinanced at a lower rate of interest (surprise!); when this and debentures by club members are repaid all income not required by Rotota for club administration will go to G.L.P. for development.

The club (and many individual members) has put a lot of money and hours into development so far. These are all part of G.L.P. assets available to all users of the grounds.

The flush toilets, shower block, and kitchen suggested in the last report, did not happen (lack of finance!) BUT we are sure a hot water system will be ready for this summer, and probably a jetty on the lake.

Leased sites are available on both the stage 1 and undeveloped areas to clubs and individuals. Tom (Rotota) has the details.

A neighbouring farmer has been very generous with allowing us the use of his tractor for road maintenance and general work - thanks Jim.

Contact with the Orakei-Karako Tourist Resort (across the lake) is very friendly and beneficial to both groups. By arrangement they will collect and return people by boat to see the thermal formations (and well worth it they are, too!), or just to visit the shop, for a modest fee.

Both the club committee and the company directors are confident of continued steady progress. All club visitors, and particularly beneficiaries of G.L.P. Trust, are welcome to visit at any time but don't forget to contact first for key information.

Geyserland Leisure Park WILL be THE nudist resort for ALL people interested in nudism.

It's a great place come and visit when you have nothing else on!

Graham Macgregor
Director GLP Ltd

Dear Sir,

Your "Talking Point" in issue No. 116 on the perennial topic of naturism/nudism, motivated me to look for definitions in several dictionaries. Chambers (the Scrabble-players' bible!) defines NATURISM as "communal nudity practised in the belief that it encourages self-respect, respect for others and a feeling of being in harmony with nature", while NUDISM is defined as "the practice of going naked".

My family and I have been naturists all our lives, having first joined a club in England in 1954. A NZ club member recently told me that I am living in the past in expecting the old values inherent in the word "naturism", as defined above, to apply here. We are '"noodists", and are following Uncle Sam, whose ideas of progress are materialistic and whose improvements remove us yet further from the natural world.

Why, you ask, is the word "naked" shunned like the plague? It isn't.

Naked - as in Adam and Eve strolling in the Garden of Eden - seems to me a pleasant word, implying innocence, vulnerability and trust. It is because of this vulnerability that naturists used to have codes of etiquette implicit in the dictionary definition, "respect for others". A documentary produced for the BBC "Man Alive" series by Adam Clapham (1979) was entitled "Let's go naked". The same author, in collaboration with photographer Robin Constable, produced a book published by Heinemann (1982) entitled "As Nature Intended; a pictorial history of the Nudists." Its final chapter discusses American commercial resorts such as "Naked City", cashing in on permissiveness; and the popularity of European free beach resorts. In the "Zone Naturiste", nakedness is normal and thousands of "Textiles" have changed sides... "These lapsed "textiles" tell you that to swim and play naked is a blessed relief, an exhilarating liberation. Are they mad, or is to be naked on a sunny beach really as nature intended?"

To return to the original talking point, I don't think it is possible for anyone to conjure up an alternative name. We can only use the name we prefer, according to our ideals and self-image; and stick to it.

Yours faithfully
Joyce Turner
Canterbury Sun Club

Dear Sir,

The article by Doug Ball in the June '86 issue confirmed the thing that I have noticed by members of clubs, especially visitors from other clubs who are members, that they return their clothes, ''except when swimming", and even then, soon after they dress or cover up with a towel.

What is the purpose of the club? Isn't it to be able to undress completely? We should be able to work, play or relax without any embarrassment!

Sunburn cannot be the excuse as there are generally enough trees with shade if required. We understand when they are new members, or other times when women need to retain some clothes, but to see men that way, makes me wonder their reason for joining

I know the committee cannot go up to people and say, "You must undress," as some may say "well, we will leave," but what the heck? In other clubs or sports if one does not toe the line then they are dismissed.

So if a rule is set up in the club's agenda then it can be applied, this to the benefit of all other dedicated club members.

This is just food for thought. I enjoy our club and its members, the working and association, all without clothes.

Sun Seeker
Nelson

Dear Sir,

A friend in New Zealand sent us a few copies of your SUPER magazine. At this time we would like to order for our library thirty back issues.

Please send us current costs for a subscription as we think your magazine is one of the best family publications around.

Charles Stewart
President Kansas Naturists
12008 W. 87th St. Pkwy.
Suite 353
Lenexa, Kansas 66215, USA

Dear Sir,

It is a year since I moved from Taupo to Sydney and joined the expatriate contingent at Bondi (known locally as "West Auckland"). You can just imagine the Kiwi networking that goes on!

Our group of six share a flat close to the sea. We spend all our leisure time in the sunshine and surf, Hi-jinks (and spartan rations) has my body lithe and with a dark tan to show it off.

I have a job as receptionist/waitress at the Breakers Motel on Campbell Parade, which faces the ocean, and have only to cross from the beach to go on mealtime shifts. My uniform is a tunic with revealing decolletage and cut-aways, all intended to generate holiday hype for the guests!

I thirst for anything New Zealand, and so eagerly grasped at a copy of your magazine (Issue No. 116) which had been left in the motel lounge. My first confrontation with social nudity, and to me it makes good sense.

The figure pictured in the centrefold, poised and in such good health, has had a strangely strong effect on me. In addition to envy, I feel angry to have been branded with a white triangle by my bikini pants, and am determined to put this to rights

I have seen a few on the beach daring to wear just a tiny string, and will get one for myself, for just so long as it takes for beach dress rules to relax to total nudity. From being shy and nervous just a year ago, I am convinced that this will dissolve completely with the shedding of clothes, and a growing familiarity with the body, until full harmony with nature is achieved, brown and beautiful. I can't wait'

Yours truly
Ngahere Russell

Dear Sir,

As a new member of the Canterbury Sun Club, I attended the seminar held in our grounds on Queen's Birthday weekend. I have been asked: what did I get out of it? As I enjoyed the sessions very much, I will try to tell you what I feel about it all.

I learnt what nudism was all about, and the different aspects of it. How everyone is working for it, in different directions. We certainly covered quite a few subjects, and I felt that we should all work together to make our Club more acceptable to other people, and try and explain to them what it is all about, as many people have preconceived ideas about us.

As I sat listening, I wondered why my husband and I hadn't joined years ago. Our time spent in the grounds is so relaxing. As you take your clothes off, your inhibitions seem to go too. There is a feeling of friendship and caring, and we can never get back quickly enough to enjoy it. I really did get something out of' it all, something that I just can't explain, but which I think every nudist will understand.

It was good to meet people from all over the country, from Auckland to Invercargill, to hear their views and ideas on how to further the movement. As far as I am concerned. it was a very successful seminar.

Yours sincerely,
Marge Wing CSC

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

Advert in Real Estate For Sale section:

FOR SALE 3 bedroom house. Overlooks nudist club. Reason for sale: Failing eyesight.

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

NEW ZEALAND CLUB DIRECTORY

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

new zealand

naturist

No. 118 September 1986

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.

Managing Editor:

Graeme Brown

Editor:

Ivan de la Chaumette

Distribution Manager:

Sue Hurley

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

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.

(Top)

AUSTRALIAN NUDIST CLUB DIRECTORY

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

President: Allan Henderson
New Plymouth 67-911

NIVP: Sue hurley, Auckland 298-8349

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

PHOTO CREDITS

Leif Heilberg Freddy Karstensen

   F.C.    P9, B.C.

L. M. Hayde J. Turner

   I.F.C.    Centre Spread.

Doug Cousins Paul. Legg

   P2, P15, P19, I.B.C.    P12.

L. McLeod

   P6.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS:

Nudist Association of
Victoria,*

P.O. Box 313,
Reservoir 3073

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

118 September 1986 - 15th July 1986

119 December 1986 - 1st October 1986

116 March 1986 - 30th January 1986

121 June 1987 - 20th April 1987