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Story: Naturism

Promoting naturism

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Promoting naturism

Nude women are shown playing sport on the July 1937 cover of Health & Sunshine, a magazine published by the New Zealand Weightlifters' Association. The magazine contained material and letters supportive of the naturist lifestyle. However, the photographs were legally considered indecent. When Auckland bookseller Morris Lehaney put the March issue of the magazine in his shop window, he was charged with exhibiting an indecent document and also with selling an indecent document. He was convicted on both charges and fined.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: S-L 523-COVER

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Hera Cook, Naturism – Development of the naturist movement, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/38036/promoting-naturism (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Hera Cook, published 9 May 2012.