City 'quietly' tosses beach nudity law

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the city council in Wellington, New Zealand, said the body has "quietly got rid of" a bylaw that banned public nudity.

Spokesman Richard MacLean said the council got rid of the bylaw -- which was designed to prohibit swimmers over age 8 from going au natural on city beaches -- because it was no longer needed, the Wellington Dominion Post reported.

"There is a bit of topless sunbathing on Oriental Bay Beach but generally people tend to keep their swimming kit on when on busy beaches," MacLean said. "So the old bylaw was of no use and was not enforced by council staff. We don't have apparel enforcement officers."

However, officials said doing away with the bylaw not only gives permission to go naked on beaches, but also opens the door for nudity on city streets since the municipality has no laws expressly prohibiting public nudity.

MacLean said those who chose to go nude would be referred to police if their behavior was considered lewd or offensive.