Baring up on the beaches

Oh get over it. Seeing nude people won't affect kids unless you teach them to be offended.

Having a nude beach can, in the long run, boost tourism and can attract more open minded and forward thinking people to the area. All around the world, where ever a nude beach has been established the results have been good for the local economy, the price of local houses and the feared downsides never materialized.

It's actually good for the community.

I assumed #6 was joking. Surely nobody is that stupid. Mind you, they it could be another raving lunatic religous nut. If so, to #6, have the common decency to leave your fairytale beliefs to yourself. It is just rude to tell people how to live because of your concept of the world. Besides, the main star in your book never dated woman and hund out with sailors. I don't think he would be so quick to judge gay people.

The people who will be perving, no doubt will be wearing clothing. Get a life those of you who are sexually excited by unclothed beach goers. Many clothed people behave in a lewd manner. YOU are the sick ones.

Nudity anwhere is not illegal, just the behaviour of the nude person.

Jeanette, above, asks the question "Why should I have to?" with reference to the nude sunbathers having their rights but she has hers - why should she have to move down the beach.

Very good question. Now why should the nude sunbathers go elsewhere? What is it about you that gives you more rights than they have?

This kind of attitude is the one we need least. For a start, who do you think you are to pass judgement on people who are homosexual? Your religion does not give you a free ticket to start harassing people just because of your personal opinion. If you don't like homosexuality, fine. But dislike it in silence without the sanctimonious attitude.

Furthermore, throwing your beliefs in everyones' faces is arrogant and rude. Have your religion, but you don't have the right to start spewing bible phrases and telling us to 'get praying'. What you do to try and appease your god is your business, not the responsibility of 'the nation'.

Ignoring the missguided sentiment. The Kapiti beaches and area are not greatly used now, certainly not over used. There has been concern for a long time the Transmission Gully road, if it ever happens, will kill off the coast. It will bypass that area. The nude beach issue sounds very much like a big publicity attempt. And realistically, even if council changes it's bylaw, what actual difference will it make. Very little, if not none.

Seems everyone is getting their knickers in a twist about nothing. Except the nudist of course, who will no doubt continue to go to their favourite quiet spot, and continue to mind their own business.

the way around the perception of offence being taken by those that choose to go naked/clothed is just to have area's fully signposted so that you know which area is for what.

I enjoy being nude at the beach and go there as often as my schedule allows. But I also understand the apprehension of those with children who have the desire to have a say over what their children should be 'subjected' to while at the beach. Families should feel 'safe' and know that they are free to wander the sandy expanse without fear of coming across someone who choose's to bathe without the confines of clothing.

Perhaps the beach front at Kapiti should be clothing compulsory and the areas that are away from more public scrutiny be clothing optional. Give everyone the space to be clothed (or not) without fear of offending others.

I've seen some semiclad people in swimming togs/bikinis/speedos that have totally offended me and have left me wondering what the world is coming to. I don't go and tell them to move along and go elsewhere. I move as I am the one that is offended and we all have rights, I am not wanting to inflict my opinion on them, so why should a few inflict their opinions/views on me.

Its a beach, it is there for all to enjoy. Clothed or not.

It's about time that natural human bodies get formal legal acceptance! I feel sorry for those who cannot distinguish between natural human beings and pornography, those whose only experience with nudity has been in obscene or exploitative contexts. The new policy recognizes natural human bodies as God's divine creation. Much as I feel sorry for those whose "morality" includes dictating how others must dress, I think there should also be a small section of beach reserved for them as well.

I don't want naked people on our beaches. It is a disturbing for prospect for more people than they realize. Have they thought of how tourism might be affected? Visiting a nude beach certainly isn't #1 on my holiday destination list. We have a weird council. Make the beach a nude beach and where do you stop? We shouldn't have a nude beach for the same reasons we don't have nudity in other public places.

HAHA. While this will prove to be very public, very controversial very much debated and will divide the public for weeks to come, before being finally reversed, I am left wondering what is the council REALLY up to. What have the council sneaked past the residents of Kapiti in the shadow of this bit of tabloid governance. Rezoning of the Airport to heavy commercial, water meters, a 4 lane western link road?

In other words what is the real story behind this story, I guess only time will tell