Ageing population sees decline in naturists

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Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:04p.m.

The average age of a naturist is now 50

The average age of a naturist is now 50

By Laura Frykberg

The annual naturist summer festival was held at Te Marua Lodge in Upper Hutt over the weekend.

Just 35 kilometres from the stress of Wellington City, the festival is the only place where people bring the bare necessities.

“It’s a level playing field once we’ve all taken our clothes off,” says naturist Judith Mercer.

“We’re all the same underneath.”

A naturist for more than 70 years, Jeff Hatfield says it gives him a sense of freedom that he doesn’t get from wearing clothes.

“Once you’ve gotten used to swimming with no clothes on, or lying on the beach with no clothes on, it’s just not the same any other way,” he says.

While some people might screw up their face at the idea of baring all, the naturists say don’t judge it until you’ve given it a go.

“I thought it wasn’t for me until I tried it, and so until you actually do you don’t know,” says naturist June Campbell-Tong.

There are more than 1200 naturists in New Zealand and at least 130 of them belong to Te Marua in Wellington, but with an ageing population, there is a shrinkage in the overall attendance.

The president of the National Federation of Naturists, Ken Mercer, says the naked truth behind the sag in the ageing population.

The average age of a naturist is now 50, and Mr Mercer says it is a worldwide problem.

“Over in Europe there is big areas where naturism is huge, but even over there, their numbers are dwindling,” he says.

Mr Mercer denies it has been fuelled by an increase in skin cancer awareness.

“People these days are suffering more from lack of sun than from over-exposure to sun.”

But the falling numbers haven’t deterred some naturists, who continue to enjoy their breezy freedom.

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Comments

08 Feb 2010 08:46a.m.

Jeff Adams wrote:

Well done TV3 for having the decency to pixelate. We want our kids to be able to see news reports without being confronted with the sight of adults' genitalia! Those "naturists" who attribute the supposed relaxed attitude to nudity in Germany and Denmark to lower teenage pregnancies are talking rot. Firstly, There is no general right to be naked in public places in either country - that's a myth. Secondly, both of these countries have highly intensive and explicit sex education and availability of contraception which most people in NZ would find totally unacceptable, yet surely that would better account for lower pregnancy rates than middle aged guys being allowed to expose their private parts in public. Many of us who are not naturists suspect that naturism is basically an excuse for exhibitionism, and I don't think we are far of the mark.

03 Feb 2010 10:31p.m.

sara wrote:

Turn life skin-side out - go naked
It's time to turn your life skin-side out
http://www.naturistspace.org

03 Feb 2010 11:08a.m.

Brian Taylor - British Naturism wrote:

I agree with 'Frank'; it is a shame that TV3 felt the need to pixelate the images of, particularly the male, naturists. This sends out a message that men have a part of their anatomy that is so horrendous, so frightening, that we cannot allow it to be seen for fear that we will be harmed by the merest glimpse! When and how did the human race get so screwed up? Roughly half the population of the world have this monster and pretty much all of us know what it looks like, so what's the big deal?

By pixelating the video, TV3 are perpetuating a prejudice that has been shown to be harmful. Nations where this prejudice is most strong have the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and the worst rates of STI's. Countries like Denmark and Germany, where nudity is seen as a normal part of life, including the freedom to be naked in public places such as city parks, have the lowest rates. It is possible to grade nations for their attitude to nudity and find that this matches their rates for not only teenage pregnancies and STI's but also eating disorders such as Anorexia.

So, TV3, are you proud of perpetuating this harmful prejudice? Try being a little bolder next time and just don't bother with the pixelation - I doubt the world will fall apart.

26 Jan 2010 07:21p.m.

Kevin Sampson wrote:

While the naturist clubs in NZ may be facing a declining number of aging members that is not true at Katikati Naturist Park. This year we are having more guests than ever before and the average age is declining. The fact is that younger people are not inclined to join clubs, of any sort.

26 Jan 2010 05:03p.m.

Frank wrote:

TV3 pixillated the images of naturists. Oh dear, how very quaint. So very '20th Century'...

26 Jan 2010 01:04p.m.

Joyce Fleming wrote:

Regarding the item on Nightline after 11pm on Monday 25 Jan. depicting naturists at the Wellington Naturist Club (Upper Hutt). I can't believe that in this day and age you found it necessary to use pixilation to obscure parts of the body. The effect is ludicrous, to say the least. These are honest people with nothing to hide, and to thus distort their appearance with pixilation is, in my view, offensive to humanity, and definitely belittling to those concerned. A complaint to the Broadcsating Standards Authority is called for.