MEDIA RELEASE

11 September 2013

Court Decision to Cloth Nudist Welcomed

Family First NZ is welcoming a court decision to throw out an appeal by Tauranga exhibitionist Andrew Pointon against his convictions for gardening and mowing the lawns naked.

“Families are rightly concerned that they and their children may be confronted by full nudity in a public place. Freedom of expression must never be at the expense of the right to protect children and families from offensive and inappropriate behavior,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Most New Zealanders know it is indecent and inappropriate to be naked in a public place – which is why there is no acceptance of the behaviour in schools, workplaces or public gatherings.”

“Mr Pointon is selfishly pushing the boundaries and finally the judge has woken up to that fact.”

The decision referred to this being ‘a situation where Mr Pointon knowing that what he did would cause offence to some of his neighbours continued and did so in any event’, and that his behaviour was in the nature of “exhibitionism”.

“Families don’t want their children being confronted by naked men and women. The rights of nudists to ‘hang loose’ should not be at the expense of families feeling embarrassed or offended. It is not for families to ‘get out of the way’. The nudists should simply cover up. There’s a place for nudity, but it is certainly not on our main streets or beaches or public parks which families and children use,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First wrote to the Crown Solicitor in 2012 asking them to appeal the acquittal by Justice Paul Heath of Mr Pointon for jogging naked in a public bike park where children could also be present.

ENDS

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