From the far

I had been thinking that since we have been in NZ, chilling out on the beaches, lazing on the rocks by the sea, hanging around the hot pools, that we had not seen any topless women. It was quite a realisation, since on the Med, in the UK in the summer, even in Asia you are often confronted with ladies with their boobies out. But in NZ, nada. Will in particular is devastated by this reality.

Apparently going topless in NZ is quite a statement, and one which seemingly has little support (haha). Whilst relaxing in our motel room the other night I saw on the national evening news that an Auckland lass was taking this issue to a whole new level. Shannon Claire has been going topless on the beach for some time, but many local people take offence and often come up to her and ask her to cover up. Of particular concern seems to be the long term effects on the fragile little minds of children. Hello, breastfeeding??!! At one point during the news filming, a council representative approached Shannon and asked her to please put her top back on since she was upsetting people. Polite Shannon did as she was told, but was later given an apology by a local councillor after they realised that she had not actually contravened any by-laws, topless sunbathing not in fact being illegal in NZ.

Shannon has started a Facebook group, “I Support Topless Sunbathing in NZ” to gain support for topless sunbathing in NZ. I have joined, myself wanting to go topless here from time to time, but not feeling quite like I can in such a conservative environment. But maybe now I will.

Isn’t it time NZ ladies got a bit bra-ve, and hit back with their boobies European styley???