Nudity In Aotearoa/new Zealand

Being nude as such is not illegal. The test is whether it is offensive. Being nude on a remote beach is considered quite different to walking down Lambton Quay in the centre of the Wellington CBD. There have been several high profile court cases in recent years about what qualifies as offensive behaviour which have clarified the law. All the same things are rather contradictory in practice. There is, for example an annual nude rugby match in Dunedin which draws thousands. This is between university students and backbackers. At the other extreme there has been a campaign for a while against nudity on certain beaches such as along the Kapiti Coast (wild country north of Wellington) and at Papamoa Beach (Tauranga). In both cases the objectors are middle class people who fear this will reduce their property value. In hippy circles, including the modern hippies, Rainbow Family, however, there is no problem with nudity. Rainbow gatherings are clothes optional and at the last people skinny dipped and sunbathed naked at the river. There was nudity at the Full Moon Ceremony. In fact I was involved in an activity to mark the water element, a group of us swam naked in the river, sang a song, hit the water 9 times (this is significant) and then went through the crowd naked anointing spectators with essential oils. I had my hair coated in mud later in the ceremony with a naked woman. Then around the fire several people danced naked including one of my good female friends. There was a man naked there the whole time. For me it was actually too cold. Anyway this was on private land. It was great fun and it does sound a little mad. I have been gardening naked when the weather allows it for a while on a rural property outside Wellington. This is home to a communal house. The house has a hippie feel and is quite relaxed about nudity even though the residents come and go it still is quite anti-materialist. We have had several naked working bees in the garden. Besides this I have been regularly cutting the lawns naked and it is a big area to cut ; just cutting the both pieces takes over 2 hours with a motor mower. I collect the grass for the garden. I was a little self-conscious about the lawns for a while, especially with the lawn near the road, and also being naked near the road in front of the house. The reality is there is so little traffic on the road, with drivers having to keep their eyes on the road on account of its narrowness and curves that the chances of being seen as nil. We swim in the river naked in summer time.

 

Sounds idyllic, Gerald

 

I think that be way to live. After you get used to be naked in front of other people & them being naked in front of other people

 

I am trying to remember the name of the nudie resort in Canterbury or near Nelson (?) in the South Island?? Damn. For the life of me I cannot recall it's name, but it has a Maori-derived name. Does anybody know? I would like to visit this summer some time.