# 148 - March 1994 

Once, when I was involved in a lawsuit with a neighbour. I attended a meeting between my lawyer and his, who were trying to forge an out-of-court resolution. I watched and listened as they manoeuvred, dispassionately sorting through things that I regarded as matters of right and wrong. Finally I couldn't stand it any more. "Your client should be ashamed of himself," I blurted, "acting as if he can take advantage of me anytime he wants." My neighbour's lawyer instantly lost his dignified, professional demeanor, "Don't you talk to me about morality," he snarled. "We know what you do down there on that farm of yours!" He wadded papers into his briefcase and stomped from the office in a fury, slamming the door behind him.

My lawyer and I sat there astonished. The angry man's footsteps were still ringing down the marble hall when my lawyer turned to me and said. "I don't know what you're doing, but cut it out right now before we have trouble we can't deal with." In fact, my lawyer was showing more than just a professional concern: his son was my best friend and was at my farm almost as much as I was. He must have been wondering what wayward paths I had opened to the family scion.

I could not for the life of me figure out what I had done that had driven my neighbour's elderly, sedate lawyer into such a rage. For the next half hour I racked my mind trying to imagine what debauchery I might have missed.

"Okay," my lawyer finally said. "Walk the straight and narrow for a while. I've known Cy for a long time. I'll give him a couple days to cool down and then I'll try to find out what's upset him."

A week later he called, "Well, I found out what agitated Cy," he chuckled. "The word is out that you guys skinny-dip!"

My tree farm includes a half mile of wooden bank on a lovely, clean river. My farm house at that time was an ancient house without conveniences - no water, no electricity. Work on a tree farm is hard and dirty; summers are comfortably hot and humid. For years it had been a part of the usual regimen at the end of the day for everyone - family and friends, whoever happened to be there, tired and dirty - to lug cold beer and towels down to the river for a long, luxurious dip in the cool, clean waters of the gentle river. Men and women. For us it was perfectly normal behaviour.

What of propriety? Well, as I have always told my wife, Linda, men are all built exactly alike, and I have no knowledge whatsoever on which to base a physical comparison of women. But that wasn't the point. Neither was the fact that most of us were nearly blind without our glasses, so we wouldn't have been able to see much even if we had looked. The thing is, we skinny-dippers had arrived at a set of tacit agreements about modesty: a matter of social understanding.

In some cultures, the sight of a woman's nose and mouth are considered irresistibly seductive. In others, the soles of a person's feet are perceived as disgusting beyond comprehension. In mainstream culture, sex is obscene but violence is television fare for preschoolers. What is acceptable in swimwear is unacceptable in a restaurant. In an elevator we condone contact that would otherwise be actionable in criminal court.

Rules of behaviour are not absolute; we negotiate them constantly.

At my farm we had reached an unspoken consensus that at the river, on prescribed occasions, nakedness was to be ignored. We would have died of embarrassment if someone's pants had fallen down at the supper table and, before adverting our eyes, we had caught sight of boxer shorts with hearts or pink panties with lace - on the very same bodies we could have seen completely naked a few hours earlier at the time.

I suppose the chief rule in skinny- dipping was sangfroid: no staring, pointing, or laughing allowed. You were to proceed as if you didn't notice that everyone was naked. (Perhaps the only difference was that in normal conversation, one might occasionally glance, for one reason or another or for no reason at all, below a man's waist or a woman's neck, but during skinny-dipping, there was a lot more eye contact and gazing off toward the horizon.)

That was never better demonstrated than the time a bunch of us were walking along a sand bar, naked as jaybirds, whatever that means. Our custom was to walk a half mile upstream, get into the gentle current, and drift slowly downstream ("butt-bouncing," we called it). On this occasion we had stopped at the upstream end of the sand bar and were talking vigorously about something or another when around the bend of the bank came two canoes. We screamed and dived for the bushes, covering ourselves as much as possible.

After the startled canoeists passed downstream, we gathered what was left of our dignity and sought the safety of the water.

It was wacky, we all agreed: here we were, a flock of academics (almost all of us where anthropologists and folklorists!) who two days later would be dressed for success and calling each other Mr Carter and Miss Shonsey across office desks. We were perfectly comfortable with our own nakedness but panicked when we were observed for an instant by four people we had never laid eyes on before and would in all likelihood never see again. What was that all about?!

The canoeists weren't in on the rules, that's what. They hadn't agreed not to stare, point or laugh. And they had clothes on, another factor in the ethnology of skinny-dipping. The embarrassment of nakedness is particularly obvious when other people are wearing clothes.

One summer a bunch of friends came to help me water trees. At the end of the long day we were hot and dirty, so we headed toward the river. Six of us were familiar with the routine; two others were helping at the farm for the first time. The veterans got to the river, undressed, and plunged in. The male half of the new couple assessed the situation and did the same. His wife considered the process, hesitated briefly; and put on her swimsuit.

No problem. We were old friends. The naked folks were all comfortable. After all, in the river one is submerged most of the time anyway, so there is little cause for embarrassment. But the woman in the swimsuit was soon visibly troubled. We had trusted her not to stare, point, and laugh at our fat, skinny, lumpy, warty, flabby, pale bodies... but she had not offered the same trust.

I felt sorry for her in her discomfort but didn't want to make things worse by calling attention to her dilemma. My friend - the lawyer's son - swam over to me and quietly said that he could see she was uncomfortable and he was considering helping her out. "Have at it," I said, "I have a feeling she'd be grateful."

"Hey Dot," John called. "How can you stand that swimsuit? Mine always gets full of gravel and turns to lead." And that's true. The river's water is very sandy. Shoes, socks, swimsuits worn into the river soon become sodden sandbags.

"Gosh, that sure is the truth." Dot exploded, happy to have an excuse other than immodesty to join our Compact of Vulnerability. She was naked in moments and clearly relieved to be a part of our shared trust.

That, of course, was the foundation of Lawyer Cy's fury. Those of us who were naked were neither embarrassed nor prurient; but Cy; clothed and at long distance, was troubled by a freedom and trust in which he couldn't share. He wasn't embarrassed nearly as much by our presumed nudity as he was by his three-piece suit.

And that's what modesty and embarrassment are all about. Immodesty, indecency, obscenity are cultural factors, mutually agreed upon and negotiable.

Contrary to the cliché, we don't: "know obscenity when we see it"; we decide what obscenity is, sometimes even without seeing it. We are enjoined to "cover our nakedness," but there's considerable disagreement about what our nakedness is. Our noses and mouths? The bottoms of our feet? A lack of trust or mutual respect?

We can talk about it later. Right now, it's February, it's hot, I won't look if you won't and last one in the river is a blue-nosed lawyer.

DOWN ON THE

FARM HUMOUR

PRUDISTS versus NUDISTS

In our lovely land of Aotearoa, besides the NZNF (that horrid New Zealand Nudist Federation), we luckily have the wonderful NZPF (The New Zealand prudists Federation) of which I, Prudella Bartlett-Whitehouse, am the President, Vice (Oh no, no! we don't have any vice in our organisation!) er-er- Secretary, Treasurer and, now I come to think of it, the sole, fully-financial member - a state of affairs which will not persist as I intend appointing myself a Life Member at the next committee meeting and henceforth shall no longer be obliged to pay any subscription whatsoever.

The major thrust (Oh dear, I shouldn't use that word as it has- er- er- rather nasty overtones) shall I say - the MAIN AIM of our organisation is to see that every creature, human or animal, is made to appear suitably attired in public. This very laudable objective is being undermined every minute of every day by that nasty (dare I use the word again?) nudist club not far from here which not only encourages its members to appear without clothing of any sort (Oh Horror!) but has also infected all the neighbouring farm animals with this nefarious desire to appear (ugh!) naked. Can this be a new and more virulent form of Mad Cow Disease?

If one can survive the shock of viewing these uncovered cattle one can easily see that not only are they most uncomfortable in this unnatural state but they are actually Friesian cold with not a Jersey amongst them to keep them warm.

What crimes those terrible nudists have to answer for!

On the other hand these horses are plainly but far more suitably attired. At least those disgusting dangly bits are mostly hidden from view. But don't you think it would be so much nicer if this rather unbecoming apparel were to be prettied-up a bit? And certainly the legs (so very provocative!) should be entirely covered. I have been campaigning vigorously to have all of the cattle in our district dressed in charming, delicately-coloured, chintz coveralls with dainty bows tied at the shoulders, the- er- rear end and, of course, around the cuffs of the voluminous, four-legged trouser-suits which we will have tailor-made for them. Perhaps the whole ensemble could be topped off, so to speak, with a wide Merry Widow hat draped with red, white and blue ostrich feathers. You must agree that the effect would be absolutely stunning! Parisian Haute Couture would have nothing on it!

As for those ghastly nudists, all I can say is:- 1. Give them a Free Beach! er-er- I mean ... bring back the birch (particularly Bill Birch) and make free with it! 2. let all hang out! er-er- that is... Whatever happened to undesirables being well and truly hung? 3. I firmly believe in Pubic Sexecution! Er- er- Oh Goddness me, my typewriter is playing up again, that should read... Public Execution is just too good for them! How dare they pervert the course of Nature!

by Prudella
Bartlett-Whitehouse

I.N.F.

NEWS

CROATIA

Assistance to refugees

This summer many naturists spent their holidays in Istria and on the Croatian islands. They were able to persuade themselves that everything is done in the holiday centres and outside to ensure .a nice quite stay to hosts.

As we have often repeated, this holiday area needs hosts, needs tourism to survive. Visitor numbers reached satisfying proportions again in 1993, as reported by BNV-Echo in its last issue. Koversada, Ulika, Solaris, Istra Funtana, Monsena, Valalte and all the other places recorded about 40% of the pre-war numbers of holiday maker's.

There have never been, nor are there presently any hostilities in Istria, as tourists familiar with the area's holiday centres have known for a long time. Understandably, there are some doubts when planning one's holidays, as the news of fighting leaves one with bad impressions.

In our own country, there is not much understanding of these developments in the last two years. Even the so brutalized population of the country does not understand why this misery does not come to an end. Cease fires are continuously arranged, only to be violated continuously. Atrocities, massacres and arbitrary deportations all horrify us profoundly.

But there are the refugees: people who have lost everything. Children without parents, wounded civilians.

We are much more fortunate, in view of our relative 'prosperity' compared to the population down there. Because of this - and in view of our solidarity with our naturist holiday partners - we have a moral obligation to help these poor people. Indeed, our neighbours are still in trouble. In the last two years, we, as naturists, were able to carry out a massive assistance programme for these refugees.

We express our heart-felt thanks to all the naturists from all over the world who have helped in this.

These thanks especially go to the initiators at association and federation levels, and even more to the BNV and the ÖNV, which carried out the humanitarian transports. Foodstuffs, washing products, hygienic products, canned food, children's food and medical drugs worth DEM 3 million were carried to Istria by lorry. On top of this, lots of clothing, shoes toys for children and much more were sent. Cordial expressions of gratitude from refugees, the mayors of Porec, Vrsar and Rovinj as well as from our refugee aid managers on the spot, have been repeatedly received.

NATURIST AID IN CROATIA:

THE REFUGEES, ESPECIALLY THE

CHILDREN NEED CONTINUED ASSISTANCE

Obviously, naturists would be more prepared to help as much as they used to if peace returned to former Yugoslavia, if normality could make its full effects felt - but what matters here are the people, innocents who got in these dire straights. Therefore we would renew our appeal today: spend as little money as you want, but as much as you can. We will be grateful for any contributions, made from the heart.

Warning: our aid account number has changed:

INF ASSISTANCE IN CROATIA

Account number 102 996
Stadtsparkasse Monchengladbach
BLZ 310 500 00

Please help us!

Cordial thanks in advance in name of the refugees who receive our material assistance

Karl Dressen
INF 1st Vice President

Ludwig Götz
INF Representative for Croatia

Like our own traditionally free beaches on Auckland's North Shore and Bay of Plenty's Papamoa; Reef Beach, Sydney Harbour, is under threat of complete closure as a nudist venue. But unlike our threatened beaches, where misguided local authorities have passed unrealistic bylaws and (in the case of North Shore) appear to have made little effort to enforce them, Reef Beach devotees are faced with a hostile Manly Council, reinforced by the State Government, whose minions daily patrol this delightful and somewhat isolated spot with Gestapo-like tenacity.

Throughout the last year or two we have read snippets of the Reef Beach saga but a recent visit there, together with meeting the President and Secretary of the Free Beach Association of N.SW., has given me a more up-to-date and comprehensive picture of the state of the play.

Reef Beach, across the bay from the Manly Ferry Terminus, has been an official free beach since 1976. It is not overlooked by any nearby houses or buildings and is reasonably remote, taking about ten minutes walk through the bush from the nearest parking spot or nearer to twenty minutes from the nearest point serviced by buses. Or, if you are a visitor without a car, it can be approached via the Manly Walkway, a journey occupying all of fifty minutes.

When my wife and I first visited it in July 1992 there were several large notices indicating that nude bathers would be found beyond that point. But already the rot had set in! Rumours were rife that a committee, heavily weighted with anti-naturist members, has been set-up by the State Government to investigate and probably repeal Reef Beach's nudist status.

By the end of the year, the Puritans had had their way. At the beginning of 1993 the law came into operation and was met by a vigorous protest from the beach users who, defying the lifeguards and beach inspectors sent to subdue them, flung away their mandatory g-strings, and cavorted naked in front of their tormentors. Result: Four naturists taken to court and numbers of people fined $20. All four defendants were eventually acquitted when their cases were thrown out of court.

Having been publicly made to look completely ridiculous, the Manly Council (incidentally exercising authority over an area which is designated as National Park and therefore, one would think, outside their jurisdiction) next sought back-up from the State Government, had all the "Nude Bathing" signs removed and replaced them with anti-nudist signs which, among other things, inform the viewer that the fine has now been increased to $500.

While many naturists gladly paid the original $20, most now baulked at such a heavy upgrading and appear to have been cowed into submission, almost all appearing with briefs, g-strings or some such minimal covering. On our three visits during November only four or five had the courage to be completely nude, even after the ubiquitous beach inspector has retired to Gestapo Headquarters for the day.

The Free Beach Association of N.S.W. valiantly carries on the fight but, with what appears to be a new wave of Puritanism influencing local and national government, are the Mrs Grundies of the world about to wipe out years of naturist's struggle for their rights? Other free beaches in the Sydney area are under threat! And now our Papamoa! None of our beaches is official, so unless we are prepared to object very loudly, even these may be taken from us!

At least, Sydney-side, all is not doom and gloom for while Manly Council has been busy with its Machiavellian plotting, the bureaucracy, blundering on in its own inimitable fashion, has issued a Tourist Commission pamphlet detailing all of the available nude beaches in N.S.W. and stating categorically that the ban on nude bathing on Reef Beach has been temporarily lifted. Armed with this piece of paper, my wife and I risked the ravages of the beach patrol and joined those few baring all!

In 1988 the Lake Downs Reservation rung to the sound of North American Indian war whoops and challenges, but since that time the new settlers have changed the reservation into Lake Downs City, resplendent with Mayor, Sheriff, cowboys and cowgirls and honest townsfolk.

On learning that the annual nudist extravaganza was to be held again at this location, many visitors from cities and towns throughout New Zealand and yet others from Canada and Australia journeyed to Lake Downs immediately following their Christmas festivities with their families and friends.

Virtually overnight on 27 December '93 a tent city sprang up among the toitoi and pine trees of the city and the facilities, including a new town hall, were put to good use.

The visiting Federal Marshall Les Olsen and deputies were welcomed for the 36th New Zealand Nudist Federation Meeting held annually in conjunction with the Rally and this year much discussion was held was held regarding the development strategy being adopted for the future marketing of nudism in this country.

With this formal part of the Rally completed, the official opening was held and provided Sheriff Starr the opportunity to try out his "confetti" shotgun.

Selmas Saloon, located in the large marquee was well patronised due to the hot, humid weather. Barmaids and barmen were rushed off their feet during the evenings, entertainment provided by PJ's Disco.

Of great assistance to the many mothers at Rallies is the onsite activities programme for youngsters. On this occasion, Wranglers Kate, Kel and their team provided excellent activities such as body painting, craft work, kite flying, water slide, mask making and helium balloons to name but a few of the items. Kel rewarded all participants daily with a ride in his WWII jeep. The team are to be congratulated for the excellent programme provided and the parents surely benefitted by having more relaxed leisure time, knowing their children were being well looked after each day from l0am to 3pm.

Keen participation was evident in the sports programme of volleyball, miniten, bowls, swimming, darts, chess and table tennis. For some years the competition dominated by one or two major clubs but this is not so anymore. There is a remarkably high standard of competition throughout the country and the resulting trophy winners were fairly well balanced from all the clubs represented.

The evening prior to New Year, a hilarious magical evening by "Ramset Fastener" entertained everyone with his risqué repertoire.

New Year's Eve commenced with a sit-down meal provided for everyone present. The Barons of Beef were indeed huge and the well cooked vegetables and the salads provided a delightful feast for all.

Photos: Les Olsen

There followed an evening of disco dancing, only stopping for a few minutes at midnight to welcome in the new year.

On another occasion a "Bottle and Can" auction was held and the $600 raised was donated to Manawatu Diabetic Youth. The NZNF 42nd Rally was very pleased to be able to support such a worthy cause.

The Perc Cousins concert was a low key affair this year but provided the opportunity for various club entertainers such as dancers, singers, clarinet players and club groups to show their talents.

All too soon the six days of fun and excitement were over. People reluctantly departed to return to their homes and workplaces having experienced a wonderfully delightful holiday.

We all look forward to another Rally in Canterbury next year.

CANTERBURY SUN CLUB

The very mild Canterbury weather has kept us all busy at Canterbury Sun Club. At mid-winter we had a magnificent feast in our club house which was beautifully decorated for the occasion. We were regaled with soup, turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, various vegetables and Christmas pudding.

Between courses were carols by candlelight, and as it was women's suffrage year Mother Christmas came and distributed the presents.

Mid winter's day was 17° so about eighteen brave souls took part in the plunge, and I can assure you that the water was nowhere near as cold as we had expected. Even so we enjoyed a soak in the spa afterwards.

The beginning of September was marked by a spring dance to lift our spirits, and Thursdays have continued to draw an enthusiastic group of older members keen to enjoy some miniten and good company.

It has not all been fun however. Trees were topped so lots of cleaning up had to be done and an area is being prepared for the big marquee for the 94/5 Rally here at CSC. A real incentive to do a few hours work at the working bees was the delicious lunch provided by our social organisers. So, winter has been an enjoyably busy time at Pineglades with plenty of opportunity to keep members together.

We hope to see many visitors from other clubs over the summer.

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB

With the beautiful summer weather, camping at AOHC has been at a premium due to the large number of members and visitors spending their holidays at the club.

Social activities have been well attended and during the past Auckland Anniversary Weekend we held our annual inter-club fun days with mad cricket, volleyten and top team.

The champion team for the last three years '"The Black and Tans" - finally met their match in the "Gummy Bares" in the closely contested final of egg throwing. Well done "Gummy Bares".

On a recent weekend we entertained the Australian Nude Safari group led by Les and Jan Hoskins - editors of Australian Sun and Health magazine.

Their tour began in Christchurch mid-January and proceeded north via the various regional nudist clubs and scenic places of interest. The party of twenty persons had a very enjoyable time making new friends throughout the country and were taking home plenty of photos and fond memories of their visit here. It is to be hoped that this pioneer tour will be the first of many to come.

ROTOTA CLUB NEWS

The Christmas holidays have been busy with many visitors, including some from overseas.

In their last three visits, a Wellington family has arrived with one of them injured. This time it was father: his ankle was bandaged, supporting a severe sprain suffered playing volleyball at the Rally. They had an addition to their family - a homeless baby thrush found at the PNSC rally. With care and attention, the bird is thriving.

Thanks to Errol, there are now bush tracks from Lagoon camp area to the hot stream, via the lake side, and also from the small waterfall to the big waterfall. These, with the existing tracks, give shady walks on the hot summer days.

The lake is being well used by swimmers, and all sorts of boats. Water skiing is very popular as are the two canoes on loan to us. Santa Claus brought one of our families a "P" class yacht. They have had great fun on, in, and under the lake, with it.

Another addition has been a rope bridge between two trees, accessed by a rope ladder up one of the trees. Great fun!

Don't believe everything that you see at Rotota. The telephone on the tree was very attractive, until one of the Wellington young people tried to use it! The electric stove next to it, with the cord plugged into the pine tree, produces tasty scones and bread. The gas ring sitting on the bottom shelf could possibly have something to do with that.

They say that recreation is defined as "getting exhausted in your own time." The choice of active or passive recreation is yours, at Rotota. We welcome our nudist visitors at any time. Contact numbers are in the club directory at the back of Naturist.

Graham

SOUTH AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.

South Auckland Sun Club (previously South Auckland Nudist Club Inc.) has reached the age of 21 and to celebrate its coming of age the club is holding a birthday party on the 14-15 May.

It would be a great opportunity for current and ex-members of the club to renew old acquaintances and make new friends.

If you are interested and want further information write to the Secretary, PO Box 821, Papakura.

Kevin Blackford

FREE BEACH CORNER

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." The first saying I learned at school - but I never hear it these days.

Even in those ancient times, however, there were legal proscriptions on the use of some words: those in a curious category called "four letter".

Given the function of the Police to protect persons and property from injury, one may assume that at least those words may have had some capacity for harm.

In these days of "New Age" sensitivity, we find a continuum in which some words, though permitted, are seen to carry "negative connotations'. We pay "consultants" to tell us what they are, so we may apply extra care in public use.

In the search for an identity perceived as environmentally sound, politically correct and possibly even culturally safe: we learn that not only is "sun" now a proscribed word, but so are "nudist" and "naturist" apparently. I suppose we must accept these losses, as we have stoically endured the end of the "gay" era. (It used to mean happy and festive, in fairly "straight" fashion; for those of you under 50.)

I'm inclined to think that in our case, variations on the word "natural" to replace the other three, may be a good move in these days of the "perception being the reality." But there are a couple of other terms that we need to watch for in public, namely: "family values" and "perverts."

Faced with a query about the location of the local free beach, a Waikanae Community Board member apparently replied to that family, "We don't have any on the Kapiti Coast: they're all family beaches along here!" (The local council has had a proclamation up at Peka Peka headed: "FREE BEACH" for some years now.)

Then there is the rustling in the dunes at Papamoa. This "recognised" beach may be lost to us if local Detective Tim Lapwood is left to follow his own line: "The hard line will include arresting the sun worshippers for indecent exposure and indecent acts," proclaims the BOP Times.

Again, it seems, we have to educate the Police on the law: yes, indecent acts are proscribed, but the relevant statute defines those acts as "indecent exposure." In other words for an "exposure" to be forensically "indecent" there must be a "lewd or lascivious activity" intrinsic in that exposure. By both definition and precedent, that cannot apply to those merely "sun worshipping".

On the question of "Offensive Behaviour", case law precedent has determined that where "time, place and circumstance" allow, mere nudity is not legally offensive. In effect, our 'grey area' is simply dependent on the evidence available that a particular place is 'known to be used' by nudists.

Under the jurisdiction of the notorious North Shore City Council, notices have appeared at beach accesses headed: "NO NUDE BATHING" - quoting their by-law underneath. That by-law attempts to proscribe the exposure of the "pubic areas" of those over 12, but does not, of course, explain that, 1: their jurisdiction stops at 'mean high water spring' (effectively the top high tide mark),

2: laying face down, or merely turning the "pubic areas" away from "the view of other persons" is compliance and, 3: bathing in the water effectively blocks any relevant view anyway. The word "No" in that heading then, makes it misleading, and therefore possibly subject to consumer complaint.

The legality of the by-law itself, is also open to questions.

The main concern however, is that with police and newspapers inclined to refer to both "nudists" and "perverts" in the same breath, there is a serious danger of us being thrown out with the bath water. Getting the term "sleaze" into general use as a replacement for "pervert", would reinforce our contention that it is only BEHAVIOUR that is the legitimate target of the criminal law, not state (particularly a natural one).

Who are the people likely to raise children that end up becoming obsessed with sleaze? Those practicing open honest nudity, or those so fearful of their mirrors they attempt to suppress that honesty?

I've learned after all these years, that words can indeed hurt, merely by inaccurate use: especially in the hands of authorities. Accentuating the positive is undoubtedly the way to go though, so let's have our "Natural Family Values" decently expressed out there on the beach. We need them for the moral health of our children.

John Lowe

Dear Editor,

I have recently received the September issue of the New Zealand Naturist and am writing to thank you for publishing the article detailing my visit to your beautiful country. The presentation and photographs are of the high quality your readers have enjoyed over many years; I trust they liked the article. Originally of course the piece was written for possible publication in the British Naturist Journal.

Indeed I received a nice letter from Alan McCombe who wrote, "I know the editor of the New Zealand Naturist and will see what photographs he can dig out for us." Sadly, as you know Alan died, so in the circumstances I wasn't prepared to follow it up.

The last two sentences of the article read, 'four weeks (in New Zealand) was not sufficient time - just a taste. I have already decided to return.' Well true to my thoughts then the plane tickets are booked to arrive in Auckland for an eight week tour starting in mid-January 1994. I'm looking forward to meeting old and new naturist friends in your green and pleasant land.

Kind regards,

John

Dear Editor,

I have just received my copy of New Zealand Naturist No. 147, and once again, it's a pleasure to read. Our Australian and New Zealand naturist magazines are second to none anywhere in the world, I believe. What distinguishes your publication, among other things, is that you give such good photographic coverage to families and the younger generation, even though it's admittedly a little difficult to obtain photos of teenaged nudists!

Therefore, even though it's not a local photo, I must congratulate you on including the photo from America. This is a superb family photo, and guess what? It includes a teenager. And he seems to be not only quite untroubled about being seen nude with his parents and younger sister in a magazine that's going to be seen by a lot of people, but he seems to be enjoying being nude; and the even but light tan of his body seems to indicate that he spends quite a lot of his time in the correct naturist uniform! I wonder if he has many friends who are nudists? What does he think about it all? These are questions that many of us would like to have answered.

I am interested in seeing such a photo in the naturist press because my son, when he was a teenager only a very few years ago, was a keen nudist, but was a very lonely one, because he believed that he was the only one about, since there were few if any photos of nude teenagers in the naturist press. As we lived in an area a fair way away from clubs and free beaches, his interest lapsed, and I could not blame him.

So, teenagers who are or would like to be nudists and who have access to clubs and free beaches, please let yourselves be photographed for a magazine and help other teenagers realise that they aren't the only nudists around!

Once again, congratulations on such a magnificent photo of all that's best in naturism. (And incidentally, there are other photos of teenagers in this issue, so thanks for those, too!)

Yours sincerely,

Richard

Dear Editor,

I read the article in issue 147 of NZN about the Free Beach Group, free beaches in New Zealand, and declining number of naturists.

In particular I was interested in your comments about nude / topless sunbathing and swimming at Breaker Bay beach in Wellington. Unfortunately, what your article failed to mention is that Breaker Bay is rapidly becoming the haunts of many perverts and voyeurs who are constantly following, staring, and approaching nudists. This has always been the case - but this year it has become worse. The numbers of these perverts / voyeurs has increased and this is chasing away many who might want to use this beach.

My partner and I will no longer visit this beach. The problem has become worse than a nuisance - I believe it is becoming downright dangerous. It is only a matter of time before someone is molested, or, God help us, much worse.

We have laid a complaint with the Police - but beside keeping an eye on the place, there's not a lot they can do. Unfortunately, the same rights which benefit nudists also protects the perverts / voyeurs. As much as I'd love to see it, there is no way that single men can be kept off free beaches.

(The exception being the gay men who use Breaker Bay. They keep to themselves; are friendly; and are never a problem. For obvious reasons they have no desire to leer at the women who might use the beach. Good on them!)

In the meantime, my partner and I will have to find another beach where we might sunbathe and swim nude. This is no easy matter, as such a beach is hard to find. Breaker Bay was pleasant, sandy, but discretely placed so as not to offend clothed beach goers.

I believe it is important for your magazine to place all the facts before its readers. The perverts / voyeurs now frequenting Breaker Bay are worse than unpleasant: we have witnessed a few masturbating close to where we were sitting; women being followed from one spot to another; men hiding and peering from behind rocks; and, in our case, one actually accosting us and verbally abusing us.

As I've said, it's only a matter of time before something even more serious happens there.

Yours sincerely,
Frank

Dear Sir,

Please find enclosed a cheque for $30.80 being payment for 12 months subscriptions to your magazine, New Zealand Naturist.

I enjoy the features published and look forward to 1994.

It's a magazine which is ideal for all ages.

Yours sincerely,
Brian Gillies

Dear Sir,

I write to enquire about the possibility of the New Zealand Naturist having a Communication Corner similar to that offered by A.S.&H. to enable naturists to meet others for genuine friendship.

I realise that such facilities can be open to improper use but feel this could be avoided by each person's advert going through the committee of their respective club.

I look forward to hearing your response to this enquiry.

Ian,
Wellington

(Next issue, Ian, if there is support for such a column - Editor.)

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. 148 March 1994

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

Business Manager:

Frank Murphy

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.

(Top)

AUSTRALIAN NUDIST CLUB DIRECTORY

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 1359. Wellington.
NEW ZEALAND

The Secretary N.Z.N.F.
PO Box 101-187
North Shore Mail Centre
Auckland 1330

President: Les Olsen
Auckland (09) 444-5015

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

PHOTO CREDITS

Les Olsen - F.C., P2, P4, P5, P10, P11,

Centre Spread, P14, P15,

P17, P20, P22, B.C.

Doug Ball - I.F.C., P7, P8, P16, I.B.C.

DEADLINES FOR COPY

149 June 1994 - 20 April 1994

150 September 1994 - 15 July 1994

151 December 1994 - 1 October 1994

152 March 1995 - 30 January 1995