Nude Gardening Day

New Zealand will hold its first 'National Gardening Week Nude Gardening Day' on October 20th this year. 

National Garden Week, brought to you by Yates NZ, is held in the middle of October each year and this year, for the first time, is including Nude Gardening Day in its line up of activities. 

Following publicity in May this year of World Naked Gardening Day and the Southern Hemisphere conditions being less than favourable for gardening without clothes in New Zealand, a decision was made to shift the date to a more inviting time of year. 

After an approach by Yates NZ, we decided to align our nude gardening event with their National Gardening Week which has goals - fostering a love of gardening with a focus on growing not only plants but friendships, good health, strong communities and closer connections with nature - very similar to the fundamentals of naturism. 

This year, National Gardening Week is focussing on helping butterflies to flourish with a national Swan Plant planting day on October 20th. Butterflies, including the much loved Monarch Butterfly, are key pollinators for our fruit and veges. Last year saw a national shortage of Swan Plants, the main diet of Monarch caterpillars, causing a large number of the population to be wiped out and Yates is getting behind the drive to avert a similar crisis this year. 

The NZNF are thrilled to be onboard with this event, doing our bit to boost butterfly numbers, and highlighting the many benefits of getting outside clothes-fee for a person's mental and physical health and well-being. 

Many of our clubs around the country will be joining the Swan Plant planting day event and we hope that many of you will participate in Nude Gardening Day wherever you can also. 
 

In Honour of Polly

The naturist community lost one of their own recently. Polly Fairbrother was a beautiful lady, a true naturist, a kind spirit, and a special friend. 

Polly had been a member of Hawkes Bay Naturist Club for several years, previously to that a member of Wellington Naturist Club and many of us had met her at recent rallies in the North Island.  

Some who had the chance to meet Polly, knew of her tragic past and that she understandably continued to suffer the effects of a person who had gone through so much trauma. 

Some days Polly came across as a strong self-assured and spiritual lady who selflessly gave of herself in the healing of other people's physical and emotional pain. Other days, Polly hid under a grey curtain and couldn't be reached, being herself in need of healing from such great physical and emotional pain.

Sadly for us, Polly decided to leave her struggles here on earth and she took her own life.
I have written previously about our efforts to support and partner with the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand in order to reach members of their community and share with them the benefits that can be found through naturism and getting close to nature. 

From the role that vitamin D exposure plays in the relief of depression, the feeling of freedom and grounding found by walking with bare feet on the grass in the fresh air, to the experience of acceptance and respect that can be found within our community.  

Polly had a wide range of groups and communities that she was involved with but her father, Russell Fairbrother QC, described Rapere (HBNC) as "the one place that she felt some peace". 

If our efforts with the MHFNZ are in any way successful, we need to ensure our clubs are havens for all people. Places where every person, with all the diversity that they represent, are accepted. And acceptance sometimes means not taking offence or um-bridge when someone, who is under a grey curtain, isn't able to be in turn responsive. Many of our own members have "good and bad days". We don't necessarily know every circumstance that has brought a person to where they are today so we need to be kind and supportive to all. Every day. 

Polly was totally focused on sharing the message of health and well-being and while she was unable to continue her own fight, this doesn’t change the essence that tangible benefits and healing can be found through naturism and getting close to nature. 

Polly's passing has left a big hole in our community, and we need to carry on her legacy of caring for others and giving, even from our own lack of having. And while we are at it, we do need to care for and attend to our own acceptance and healing. In doing this, we can truly live in accordance with the naturist philosophy: "Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment".

World Naked Gardening Day

The New Zealand Naturist Federation is supporting the annual World Naked Gardening Day event and encouraging people around the country to garden without clothes on this Saturday.

Inspired by the success of the World Naked Bike Ride, the inaugural World Naked Gardening Day took place in September 2005 and in 2007 the event date was moved to the first Saturday in May annually.

Second only to swimming, gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude. Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, but as you feel the sun and breeze on your skin it gives a healthy sense of both our body acceptance and our relation to the nature and the environment.

Anyone can garden, young or old, singles, family or community groups. From planting a herb garden or annuals on an apartment balcony, and families raking leaves in the back yard, to pulling invasive weeds along a bush track and cleaning up a section of beach.

In New Zealand, it is not illegal to be naked on your own property and in appropriate public places, such as beaches or even regional parks. It is not the lack of clothes that is the issue but any bad or deliberately offensive behaviour that goes with it.

Photo credit: Andrew Miller - New Zealand Naturist Federation

The New Zealand Naturist Federation is working to increase greater acceptance of non-sexual social nudity by the general population. Gardening naked, being close to nature and free of clothes in the fresh air all contribute to a sense of inner health and well-being.

But don’t just take our word for it, find out more about the benefits of clothes-free recreation and the naturist community in New Zealand on the New Zealand Naturist Federation website www.gonatural.co.nz.

Love the Skin You're In

This year the New Zealand Naturist Federation are creating a powerful summer campaign to create awareness of the benefits of naturism to a person's body, mind and soul.

 
The concept is "Love the Skin You're In" which aligns to our gonatural brand tag-line of ‘health and well-being’ and will focus on two really important issues that many are faced with today - positive body image and mental health awareness - and sometimes these are interlinked.

 

 
Body image is the mental representation that one creates of themselves, and because it is subject to all kinds of internal elements like our mood, our experiences and social attitudes, it often doesn't bear any close relation to reality or how others see you.   

 
A negative body image is one of the key reasons that more people do not embrace the naturist lifestyle. They mightn't have any issue with nudity per se and might even realise the many benefits that can be experienced physically from being clothes-free, but think it's only for other people feeling too self conscious or body shamed to partake themselves. Many of our members can attest to having similar feelings and issues with acceptance of their body before embarking on their naturist journey however almost as soon as they took that first step, or at least very early on, they found they were looking at themselves through  very different eyes. 

 

Self-esteem is greatly enhanced in the naturist lifestyle and our own self-esteem increases when we accept ourselves for who we really are. However, it isn't until a person gives it a try, that they can experience that concept for themselves. 

 
A negative body image can, but not always, lead to mental health issues. Writing about mental health can put it in a box rather than creating context around it somewhat trivialising the issue which is not our intention. One thing we know is that each sufferer and their symptoms are unique and individual. From depression and anxiety to stress and grief, mental health affects those close to most of us at some time in our life.

 
Hardly a week or day goes by where we don't hear of another person who has ended, or tried to end, the pain they are experiencing from their internal struggles. Sadly this often, although not exclusively, affects our men and young people. 

 
Wouldn't a better story be to show the effects and benefits that naturism can bring a person; being close to nature, feeling the breeze over all of your body and not just your face; hearing the sounds of nature and song of birds in the trees; grounding yourself to the earth by walking with bare feet on the grass.     

 
Researchers are discovering that vitamin D may play an important role in mental health and in depression and recently the Mental Health Foundation held their annual Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme again being"Nature is Key". It is being recognised that nature, sun and feeling free in the fresh air are important elements to helping a person towards better mental health.

 
In addition to this is the sense of community and caring that can be found throughout our member organisations where respect and acceptance of every person is evident and part of our naturist principles.

 
We do not expect that naturism is the one cure-all for every sufferer (it might be and that would be awesome), but we do believe clothes-free recreation and getting close to nature could form part of a person's journey to whole health that they possibly hadn't considered before.

 
Remember as a young child . . . the seemingly endless days of summer; the sprinkler going in the backyard; off come your clothes; the squeals of delight as you run through the water; jumping in the puddles; the feel of water, sun and breeze on your bare skin; the innocent fun and pure joy?

 
Our aim this summer is to share how everyone can experience the innocent joy, freedom and benefits that naturism brings to enhance their well-being, and to love the skin they're in.

Introducing the New gonatural Magazine Team

Following the recent resignation of gonatural Magazine's long standing Managing Editor Kay Hannam, we are thrilled to announce that the magazine has been transferred from one superstar into the hands of a team of enthusiastic professionals. 

Noel Thomas takes on the role of Business Manager and provides production services as well as administrative and accounting services. Noel first joined Pineglades Naturist Club in 1991 and has served on the committee for a total of 12 years. 6 of those years were as President, 5 as Treasurer and he is currently in the Buildings Maintenance position. He has also served a 2 year term as South Island Vice President for the NZNF. He and his wife love to travel and during their visits to Europe have visited a number of Naturist Resorts in France, Croatia and Spain.

Michael Moore has been a naturist for more than 25 years and has hosted over 300 international Couch Surfing guests to his nudist home.  He has visited naturist groups, clubs and beaches in UK, Germany, Australia and Asia.  In Wellington and Cairns, he established Sunboys, a social nudist group, and worked with local Council to access public swimming pool for naturists. He is a member of Pineglades Naturist Club in Christchurch. Michael is a strong advocate of community and grass-roots engagement and values sharing of positive stories.  Michael brings with him 30 years of public relations, publishing and journalism experience in the non-profit community and corporate sectors. 

Your stories and supporting images are always welcomed for addition to the next available edition of the magazine so please email editor@gonatural.co.nz with these. 

The magazine can only continue with your subscription and support. Please subscribe now at http://gonatural.co.nz/gonatural-magazine/subscribe/ to receive either the printed or digital version of the magazine.

Merci and Au Revior Kay

This September 2015 issue #234 marks Kay Hannam's final, as editor of 35 editions of gonatural Magazine.

In January 2007 Kay was appointed as Editor of gonatural magazine following on from Conrad Inskip who resigned due to ill health. For more than 8 years, Kay has fitted editing and publishing the magazine around running and growing a successful naturist holiday park with partner Brian Williams, taking extended trips throughout Europe, and promoting the naturist lifestyle in New Zealand and worldwide.

gonatural Magazine began in 1956 as an eight page black and white quarterly publication. The first issue that Kay put together, with help, tips and advice from former editor Les Olsen and his wife Laurel, was a 24 page publication with four colour centre pages. Today the magazine has developed to 44 pages of full colour goodness, including a digital edition, and is almost entirely dedicated to New Zealand naturism with regular contributors submitting interesting articles of their travels and experiences. 

Being a contributor to gonatural Magazine and other naturist magazines around the world, is what began the transformation of Kay’s writing from hobby to career. Travelling extensively throughout Europe, Kay was keen to see her experiences in print so with her companion and partner Brian, an avid photographer, she began to pen their adventures and submitting her articles.

Since late in 2007, Kay has not just edited the magazine, but published, distributed and managed the accounts and in 2009 she entered into a formal contract with the NZNF and became the Managing Editor.

Even when not pressured with a camp ground full of visitors, an upcoming trip away or administrative duties pending, editing and publishing the magazine can be a heavy and daunting task - thank goodness for her patient and understanding partner. But Kay, through her disciplined work ethics and excellent time management skills, has continued to grow magazine readership, along with contributions to the magazines, with submissions for her penultimate issue exceeding the page space available.

It is with much sadness that we must bid farewell to Kay as Managing Editor, but with enormous gratitude for her many years of incredible service and contribution to the magazine and wider naturist community. We have much appreciation also for the healthy state in which the magazine will be handed over to the new team which will manage, edit and publish it going forward.

We hope that Kay enjoys many further trips to Europe with Brian, without working around the magazine, and wish them both safe and happy travels. We look forward to reading more of their travels and experiences in future issues of gonatural…the next chapter.

Bon voyage and au revoir.

gonatural Magazine Issue #234 September 2015

Editors Letter:

Is going naked the new black? Michael Moore continues his article by asking another question “What is the single biggest reason why naturism isn’t a growing thriving movement?” I’ll leave you to decide if he has the right answer. Perhaps you would like to respond in the next issue with solutions of your own?

John Mullen was a naturist for 45 years having joined the Otago Sun & Health Club in 1969. He died in June aged 82. The naturist community express their love and condolences to his wife, Joyce, and their family.

Who would have thought it? Almost nine years ago I was asked if I would take on the position of Editor of this magazine. Thank you to Donna 
Miller who beautifully describes this chapter in my life.

Combining his passions of photography, life drawing and naturism Jeff Norman brought the West Auckland Life Drawing Group to Oranui. The visit provided a great opportunity for members to see the Club.

Steve Webster describes an idyllic weekend at Waiongana. Who could ask for more? 
Sun, sea, long walks on the beach, mussels, paua, a swim in the pool, pizzas and beer. All with good company in Taranaki.

I’ve heard the mid-winter plunge described in many ways, but 
“just another day“? John Lowe kicks off the collage of chilly experiences reported from around the country.

Looking for a base to stay while exploring the beautiful Bay of Islands and the Far North, Mike Ward located Waitata Naturist Resort. Situated near the charming little heritage town of Russell, once the Capital of New Zealand, this stunning location has its own naturist beach.

“You can leave your hat on.” Thus the anniversary wall at Vantan was named by Vanessa. Daniel Jackson’s super photo on our front cover complements his article about their 75th celebrations in Canada. 

First held in 2001, the Nude Golf International was initially played on the Balmoral 
golf course near Lake Tekapo. This year at the scenic course in Wairau Valley, Lindsay 
Parkyns became the first Australian to win the magnificent trophy heading off twenty other competitors.

Peter Jackson was adamant after discovering this remote high country location, that there was no reason to look outside the country for locations for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit as he considered New Zealand “the perfect Middle-earth”. Michael Moore’s exploration to Erewhon will convince you he was right.

40 minutes from the Gold Coast airport at Coolangatta, and 90 minutes drive from Brisbane and with the beach only ten minutes away, BB at Byron Bay, Australia’s newest naturist accommodation, is aptly described as a “hidden treasure.”

“The Naked Village”, a documentary on Spielplatz - the oldest naturist club in Britain and shown  by TV ONE. John Lowe ended his review with the comment; “I find myself forced back to another cliché: all publicity is good publicity - sorry!”

I would like to thank all the individuals and organisations who assisted me in my role as Managing Editor of gonatural; especially the contributors of some amazing articles and stunning photographs (let’s not forget the models) who have helped shape this magazine; the printers, distributors, my proof-reader, rural post, valued advertisers and readers. And finally the one person that allowed me to put it all together; my rock, Brian Williams.

I am excited for the future of the magazine with the confirmation of the new gonatural team: Manager Noel Thomas; and Editor Michael Moore will introduce themselves in the next issue.

I’m off to pack my suitcase.                                                      

Kay Hannam

Managing Editor