Go Naked New Zealand
Promoting body positivity and acceptance
through non-sexual social nudity
7th Annual Nude Gardening Day
(Southern Hemisphere)
Saturday 26 Oct, 2024
Internationally Nude Gardening day has been celebrated on the first Sunday of May. However, since this is a bit cold for the Southern Hemisphere, since 2018, NZ has been celebrating its' own Nude Gardening Day the 3rd or 4th Sat of October, and was joined since 2022 by Aus and SA.
Some years have a specific theme. The 2023 theme was: "Veggies - better home grown". Alice is pictured here helping Anna with her veggie garden.
Stuff.co.nz covered the event: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/300993454/no-plans-for-the-long-weekend-go-nude-and-get-deeprooted-in-your-garden-say-naturists
In 2022, the theme was soil health: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300718784/nude-gardening-day-kiwis-urged-to-bury-their-undies
Nude Gardening Calendar
The 2022 theme for "Nude Gardening Day" was "Soil Health". This was then followed by the "Soil & Health Association of NZ" producing a "Nude Gardening Calendar" since 2023.
Nude Gardening Day 2023
Sat 21 Oct 2023 was NZ's 6th annual nude gardening day
The 2023 theme was: "Veggies - better home grown". Nude Gardening Day is part of Gardening Week and is supported by Yates.
Alice de Wet, NZNF Marketing co-ordinator was interviewed live by TV One's Breakfast show - you can see the interview here
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/10/20/kiwis-encouraged-to-get-their-kits-off-for-nude-gardening-day
Looking Back: Nude Gardening Day
2022
Each year Nude Gardening Day has a different theme. In 2022 the focus was on healthy soil. To this end, Yates has run a competition: "soil your undies". (yates.co.nz/national-gardening-week/this-year/2022/) where gardeners were asked to plant their cotton undies for 60 days and dig them up to determine soil health. The more threadbare the undies, the healthier the soil.
Alice de Wet, NZNF Marketing Co-Ordinator and also Auckland Outdoor Naturist Club Secretary, was interviewed by TV One's Breakfast show. When asked whether she had dug up her undies, Alice responded: "It's pretty funny because I planted my undies with the president of the club, and I could only find his undies.. I couldn't find mine, and his are pretty worn out so I think mine has been eaten by the micro-organisms" to which the Breakfast host replied, "it's not like you need the undies anyway, Alice, so sayonara to your underwear this morning".
You can watch the full interview if you scroll down below...
Alice's Interview with the Breakfast Show
Alice was interviewed by TV One's Breakfast show for Nude Gardening Day 2022. "Getting in touch with nature: touching the soil, feeling the soil, on you bare skin, it's a wonderful feeling." You can see the interview here:
Alice's Interview with Breeze Radio
Interviewed by Breeze Radio for Nude Gardening Day 2022, Alice notes: "A sense of total freedom, being in touch with nature, basically being in touch with your roots, because we are all born naked. So it's about going back to that feeling about who you are and trying to reach that inner self. It's great for your self esteem, because when you are nude, you have nothing to hide anymore". You can listen to the interview here:
A History of NZ Nude Gardening Day 2018 - 2022
Below is a recap of some of the media stories from past years. Special thanks to Alice de Wet, Wendy Lowe, Donna Miller and June Campbell-Tong for promotion of this event over the last few years - as well as to Yates and Lynn River for their past support.
Nude Gardener of the Year 2022
29 Nov, 2022
From 2020 to 2022 Lynn River ran the "Nude Gardening Day Photo Competition". Lois Heads won nude gardener of the year '22 facebook.com/nudegardening
2022 Theme: Bury your undies to determine soil health
22 Oct, 2022
Yates was asking NZ gardeners to bury their undies for 60 days, then dig it up to determine soil health as this 2022's theme for Nude Gardening Day. See Media release: Nude Gardening Day: Kiwis urged to bury their undies | Stuff.co.nz
AONC Secretary Alice along with the club president, Mick, buried their undies (Betty Boob panties and Buzz Lightyear briefs). Alice's underwear was totally decomposed to the point of being untraceable when it was time to dig it up - a testimony to the great soil health at AONC.
STIHL SHOP advert with Naked Gardeners
1 April, 2022
Echoing Nude Gardening Day, STIHL Shop ran a clever April Fool's day ad with some nude gardeners (including members of AONC). Watch it on Facebook: https://fb.watch/c6lKUSqlfT/
Through the Lens 2021: New Zealand Herald, the Year in Pictures
Dec, 2021
A special feature of NZHerald, telling the story of 2021 through pictures, including a photo of AONC club members celebrating Nude Gardening Day. Photo by Michael Craig.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/news/2021-through-the-lens
AM Interview with Wendy Lowe 2021
October 27, 2021
Live early morning TV interview with NZNF President Wendy Lowe on the AM show, channel Three. This was Wendy's 2nd appearance on the show pertaining to the topic, her first was in 2019 (further down this list). You can watch it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAMShowNZ/videos/852844175375658/
Lynn River Nude Gardening Day Competition 2021
October 27, 2021
Alice wins Lynn River Nude Gardener of the Year competition for 2021 after 12 finalists were put to public vote.
Otago Daily Times: Game to join in on Nude Gardening Day
October 25, 2021
A great article showing you don't have to be a naturist to join in on the fun of nude gardening day. anyone can participate!
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/game-join-nude-gardening-day
Stuff.co.nz: Among the bushes: Naked gardeners strip off for Nude Gardening Day
24 Oct, 2021
Alice & Dion de Wet and Ryan Berry from AONC strip down for 2021 Nude Gardening Day and talk to stuff.co.nz about naturism and gardening.
Newshub: Kiwi nudists planning mass naked gardening day to benefit local food charities
October 18, 2021
Newshub talks to Wendy Lowe in an article covering the theme of 2021 Nude Gardening Day: 'Grow to give' encouraging people to grow an extra row and donate the surplus vegetables to families in need through a local food bank, community pantry, or another food donation agency.
NZHerald printed article
May 1, 2021
Article that appeared in the printed version of the NZHerald for International Nude Gardening Day, with a photo by Michael Craig, article follows:
“Wear sunblock, a hat and gloves”. That’s the advice for anyone wanting to take part in International Gardening Week today from Alice de Wet, secretary of the Auckland Outdoor Naturist Club. De Wet, who was introduced to naturism through a friend in native South Africa 13 years ago, believes that naturism, and naked gardening, is a way to get away from the modern world.
“It’s easy to get caught up in technology and lose touch with nature and our roots. This is a way to connect to nature and focus on the outdoor and the environment.”
De Wet moved to New Zealand with her husband 12 years ago and they attend the club in Ranui with their son. She thinks it’s more comfortable to visit a club rather than public place such as a naturist beach when staring in naturism. Or if you want to try naked gardening in your garden, then perhaps erect a gazebo to afford privacy. And what about feet?
“Definitely wear footwear if you’re digging, for safety’s sake. But I prefer barefoot gardening to really connect with the Earth”.
1News: Nude Gardening Day 2020
October 24, 2020
1News.co.nz: Nude Gardening Day 2020
AM Interview with NZNF President Wendy Lowe 2019
25 October, 2019
You can watch the AM Interview with NZNF Pres. Wendy Lowe on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&v=487105095209089
Stuff.co.nz: Taranaki Naturist Club participating in NZ's first official Nude Gardening Day
October 22, 2018
A Stuff.co.nz article covering NZ's first official Nude Gardening Day as celebrated by members of Taranaki club.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107996900/naturists-embrace-new-zealand-nude-gardening-day
No frostbite at Southland's Nude Gardening Day
October 21, 2018
Stuff.co.nz covers Southern Naturally (the world's Southern most naturist club) celebrating NZ's first official Nude Gardening Day.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/108003935/no-frostbite-at-southlands-nude-gardening-day
Manawatu Naturists Celebrate Nude Gardening Day
Oct 21, 2018
Manawatu Naturists celebrate the first official Nude Gardening Day in NZ
https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/107996880/nude-gardening-day-for-the-monarchs
NZHerald article on establishment of first official Nude Gardening Day in NZ
September 28, 2018
NZHerald interviews then president of the NZNF Donna Miller on decision to establish NZ's own version of Nude Gardening Day.
Stuff.co.nz: It's Naked Gardening Day - but it's a tad chilly, say Kiwi enthusiasts
May 5, 2018
An interview with former NZNF president June Campbell-Tong who find International Nude Gardening Day in May a bit chilly. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/103584122/kiwi-naturists-call-for-a-southern-hemisphere-naked-gardening-day
Stuff.co.nz: International Nude Gardening Day with Taranaki Naturist Club
May 4, 2018
Before NZ's own version of Nude Gardening Day was established in 2018, we celebrated it in May with the rest of the world (which is a touch nippy!) https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/103651114/its-nude-gardening-day-on-saturday
Radio NZ: International Nude Gardening Day
4 May, 2018
Radio New Zealand spoke to then president of NZNF Donna Miller on International Nude Gardening Day
