Ageing Population Sees Decline In Naturists

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, New-Zealand, 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.