Inside an award-winning naturist camp

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Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:00a.m.

There is a common perception that New Zealanders do not favour naturism or nudist clubs and beaches.
 
But a little place in Katikati has won over a very influential group with their way of life.

At the recent New Zealand Tourism Awards, Kevin and Joan Sampson's naturist park won best holiday park.

If you're wearing anything, you're over dressed for the park.

Kevin and Joan's bare essentials had nothing to do with the tourism award for best camping ground however - it was their business acumen.

"I think it was a surprise we got right to the top at the end," says Kevin. "We knew we had a fairly good chance when most of our guests said we were the best or amongst the best of the holiday parks they'd stayed at in New Zealand."

"Kevin and Joan have put all their time into establishing this camping ground and it's just a well deserved award," says Dianne Hoskins, naturist. "Should've happened a long time ago."

The quality of the grounds swayed the judges, and that is partly thanks to the 12 semi-permanent residents who have added their own personal touches.

The park also practices sustainable living because naturism is about working in harmony with nature.

It is a way of life resident Heather Palmer has always wanted to live, and hopes the award will change perceptions.

"People will see it as something quite different - that we're just normal people," she says. "We have a lot of fun, it's lovely to get out in the air and the water so I think they'll see a different side of it, I hope."

Far from being exhibitionist hippies, Kevin used to work in treasury as an economist and Joan was a lab technician for MAF.

Then 14 years ago they gave in to the call of the wild. But clothes still play a part in their lives - they might be naturists but they are not stupid.

"We did a tramp earlier this year where there were stinging nettles," says Kevin. "We quickly put our clothes back on."

Naturism makes most of us giggle or even a bit uncomfortable. Recently when the Kapiti District Council voted to create the longest nudist beach in the world, locals were horrified.

The Sampsons, though, say it makes sense.

"In recent years it's become a real problem, because where ever you designate a beach or part of a beach as a nudist one you immediately attract all the undesirables, the pervert, the posers etc, but if you actually open up the whole beach, then genuine naturists can be safe and secure," says Kevin.

The Sampsons have a reputation for high standards of behaviour and safety, and they have an answer for those who worry about public nudity around children.

"All the research that's been done internationally about the effect of seeing naked people on children shows that in fact it is a positive effect," says Kevin. "The children learn about the human body, learn to accept it and have much greater confidence in themselves."

It is doubtful the two sides will ever agree, but Joan thinks the protective layers are slowly coming off.
 
"People are being more and more acceptable of other peoples' views. Not necessarily it's going to be right for them, but say 'So what, let people do their own thing.'"

The people of Katikati have not always been happy about the naturists in their back yard, but with greater understanding has come greater acceptance.

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Comments

29 Jan 2010 11:44p.m.

Jimmy wrote:

Pull your pants up man!

07 Aug 2009 03:35a.m.

John wrote:

Shame on the cute reporter who did not dare to bear! Jourmaiists should practice what they preach> I want a long restul holiday with nice couples who share their naked life; their new hobby certainly beats treasury and resources work. And all the ladies have such gorgeous lovely mature breasts which are not about pervy titillation but outdo many boring celebs any dayy. Women verywhere need to see great inspiring rolemodels like these supurb hugely sexy women, as do all real men who deeply love

06 Oct 2008 06:20p.m.

sara mavis wrote:

To me, being nude is being the same person but in a sensually charged ambience that is very pleasurable. Indeed I prefer being with my family and other sociable mixed gender naturists in clubs and resorts for all of our recreation or relaxation. My personal best was three weeks vacation at a resort in France, with everything except sandals put away for the entire duration. The strangeness of shirt and shorts to depart there was almost as strange as becoming a naturist many years before. As regards sex-life; being nude together promotes an appreciation of the pleasure that can be given one to another. At your first naturist experience, you may feel apprehensive and worried that people will be staring at you. But a visit to naturistmingle.com is much different than you would experience anywhere else. At there, you will not find people trying to undress you with their eyes, from afar or near, because there is nothing left for the imagination to remove. You will not find people throwing outdated, lewd or offensive pickup lines at you.

27 Sep 2008 03:22p.m.

Doug wrote:

Nudity is being with nature , it is so refreshing and there is nothing wrong being nude or a nudist .There should be more of it , as my next door neigbour ( who is a 83 year old lady )would say , its only skin .If there was more of it around children , there would be less trouble .

27 Sep 2008 09:55a.m.

Alien wrote:

Sadly Karen, we have become too PC, and people do not understand how adults, teenagers, children, can all be nude at nudist camps or beaches. Because in their minds they are only able to see sexual meanings to a nude body, which simply are not the nudist way.

26 Sep 2008 11:16p.m.

Ron wrote:

This is the relaxing way to take a holiday. The camp looks beautiful and a credit to the work that Kevin and Joan have put into it. Also, congratulations to NZ Tourism for their open mind to naturism. When the time is right, clothes optional is the way for a great holiday.Well done.

26 Sep 2008 10:52p.m.

Karen wrote:

It amazes me that there are those who think children have to be protected from nudity all the while letting them blow stuff up on Playstation and watch gratuitous violence on TV.