FBNZ News

45 Km of Nude Beach!

Longest Nude Beach in the World?

Great headlines! But what's the real story? Note first - the council has not designated 45 Km of beach for anything.

Back in May, the Kapiti District Council gave notice of a new bylaw which included the following clauses.

• "No person shall remain upon any part of the beach in deliberate view of others in such a state of undress as to cause offence."
• "Council may from time to time, by public notice, upon such terms and conditions and for such periods or periods as it thinks fit, declare that a defined area of the beach or waters abutting the foreshore, shall be restricted or reserved for a specific purpose, seasonal activity or event."

In a submission to the council from FBNZ some basic legal aspects were mentioned:-

• The council must allow for all sections of its constituent community.
• 'Mere' nakedness is not illegal.
• A council bylaw cannot impose a greater penalty than statute law.

Consequently, last week, the council's regulatory management committee recommended that that these aspects of the bylaw should not proceed - leading to the lurid headlines of alarm.

(For the record, FBNZ has no problem with the council specifying a preferred or recognised place for clothes-optional use, provided that they don't attempt to go beyond their statutory powers, in terms of trying to outlaw clothes-optional use elsewhere. In practical terms, there is only about 500 m of beach actually used, either side of the end of Te Hapau Rd. No one is trying to force the council to 'designate' anything. Let's just leave the rest alone, under the same laws as currently apply to the rest of the country!)

The council invites public submissions, which close on October 24th. Now's your opportunity to let them know what you think. Please remember, it is FBNZ policy to put the Family First, on all beaches!