General Discussions

Well, it had to happen eventually, I guess. I've been removed from the NZNF facebook page because I don't hold a current NZNF card. And fair enough - rules are rules. I've taken the hint and removed myself from their MeWe group as well.

All credit to them though - they did offer to allow me to rejoin the group if I renewed my membership for the $40 annual fee. But I'm not that desperate to pay that just to belong to a facebook group! And being a member carries no other benefits for me personally either that I can identify. So I've wished them well and moved on.

It's been fun while it lasted, though. While John Lowe was editor of the gonatural newsletter I spent many rewarding hours proofreading and correcting it before publication, as well as contributing numerous articles and reports of interest to naturists - both within and outside the NZNF circle. I've also tried my hardest to bring Hauraki Naturally alongside the clubs in a camaraderie fashion and had several promising conversations with some club presidents. Sadly, none of those were ever followed through. I guess our "black sheep of naturism" reputation prompted them to keep us at arm's length. Who knows?

It may be a coincidence - I don't know for sure - but my exile came just a day or two after writing to the NZNF to draw attention to some anomalies in their constitution that were causing confusion among some members who had contacted me with their concerns. I happened to mention at the conclusion of the correspondence that perhaps the constitution and the club model might be due for a bit of an update to bring it in line with today's world. My comment may not have been taken kindly.

But I worry about the clubs' futures. While one or two may be seeing increased numbers, overall membership through New Zealand has been on a steady decline for years. In 2016 there were an estimated 1,600 members - now reportedly less than 1,200. The number of clubs too has fallen. At one stage there were over 20 clubs throughout the country - now just 14.

It's not just New Zealand, however. "Time has moved on", says Mark Bass, president of British Naturism, while addressing the crowd of naturists at the recent opening of Sunfolk Resort, some as young as their 20s, but most in midlife or older.

“Time has moved on,” he says. “The attitude towards actually joining societies, joining clubs, has waned.”

He's right. Membership of national naturist organizations is in decline around the world. Even in Germany, home of the trailblazing “Free Body Culture” (FKK) movement, city councils have been reducing their number of clothing-free naturist beaches.

Young people don't want to join naturist philosophies, societies and clubs. Young folk have no issue getting their gear off when the occasion calls for it. A thousand naked people running and dancing around the dying embers of the Kiwiburn effigy testify to that. But the focus and mindset regarding nudity was poles apart from what you find at the clubs.

It really is time for a rethink!