The Cambridge Dictionary defines it succinctly as “the set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.”  Wikipedia  elaborates on it further as "the set of conventional rules of personal behaviour in polite society, usually in the form of an ethical code that delineates the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed by a society, a social class, or a social group."

 

At first glance, it would seem, then, that Naturism, with its claims of “acceptance of all”, would have a problem advocating and expecting a strict code of behaviour to be observed by all its followers.  What happens to those who refuse to recognise the rules?  Are they then excluded from the group?  Maybe the ideals of “acceptance of all” is laced with conditions?

 

Dame Mary Douglas was a British anthropologist, known for her writings on human culture.  In her book "Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo", published in 2003, she states "that the unique manners, social behaviours, and group rituals enable the local cosmology to remain ordered and free from those things that may pollute or defile the integrity of the culture. That ideas of pollution, defilement, and disgust are attached to the margins of socially acceptable behaviour in order to curtail unacceptable behaviour, and so maintain “the assumptions by which experience is controlled” within the culture."

 

In human psychology, we are taught that the various matters of social etiquette fall into one of three categories: Personal Hygiene, Courtesy toward Others, and Cultural Norms.  The first two are usually taught to the child at a very early age by the parent.  Cultural Norm manners are acquired more by immersion in the culture or social group to which we belong.  They are the set of behaviours that identify us as part of that group and allow us to determine whether or not another person is to be trusted as a genuine member of that group.  And, like it or not, we have an innate and inescapable requirement to ensure that those in our common community, society or social group adhere to our own set of cultural norms.  Woe betide those that transgress!

 

Naturists, too, are no exception.  While we do accept people of different races, creeds, sexual orientation, genders, etc. we do have our own set of manners and etiquettes that we identify with.  These generally sit alongside those other cultural norms that might vary according to a person’s race and background.  Some matters of naturist etiquette are quite strict, while others are a little more relaxed due to personal convictions and preferences.

 

Hauraki Naturally fervently supports the generally accepted codes of etiquette that are observed in this country.  It's important that people wishing to get naked in New Zealand behave appropriately.  So, let’s have a look at what is expected of us as members of our Naturist Culture.

 

Firstly, just because it's legal to get naked on our beaches, rivers, lakes, forest trails and other great outdoors locations, that doesn't mean we have free reign to do so without regard for other people's comfort and opinion.  If we want to promote the ideals of Naturism among the community at large, we need to remember that the actions of one naked person can (and unfortunately sometimes do) greatly affect the opinions of others towards naturists in general. We are attempting to educate the general public to recognise the immense benefits of our philosophy, and we need to do so with care are kindness!

 

So, here we go: