Longtime Pineglades Naturist Club member Rolleston has never spoken publicly about his life as a nudist, despite a short-lived media frenzy six years ago.
So after being elected president of the New Zealand Naturist Federation over the New Year, it’s time to talk.
“It makes me feel good, I’m not judging cases where someone is going to say, ‘Well, that judge only decided that because he’s a naturist,’” says Saunders (71).
In 2016, Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar caused a short-lived public outcry over a judge whose nude photos were posted on the Pineglades website. McVicar said the judge (Saunders) – who was not named – caused a “public outcry”.
The TV news covered the “naked judge” story, without identifying Saunders, with McVicar calling for an investigation, arguing that the photos could undermine due process of law, as they could be used for blackmail purposes.
Broadcaster Paul Henry, himself a naturist, took part in the debate, taking issue with McVicar’s views on the matter.
But it rattled through the corridors of the judiciary.
The chief judge of the district court told Saunders at the time, “Keep your head down, it will blow over.” So that’s what he did.
“(Media) came to me, I said, ‘I’d like to make a comment, but I’m not going to because I’m not going to stir up the debate,'” Saunders said.
But his lifestyle was never something he kept a secret from colleagues and friends.
He was a district court judge for 27 years before retiring two years ago – 10 years in Dunedin and then 17 years in Christchurch. Today he lives in Christchurch. A member of Pineglades in Rolleston for 50 years, he joined when he was 21 as a law student at Canterbury University.
Being naked in public came at a young age. His father was headmaster of the Hanmer School, which served at the thermal baths.
“Nobody was wearing togs. I think it was the sulfur in the water (because of the effect on the fabric), so it was just accepted.”
Later in Nelson, the family would visit Tahuna’s relatively private beach.
“I hated swimming in swimwear,” he said.
In his 20s in Pineglades, he found being naked just as liberating. Today, he still has this sense of joy as he strolls around the club as one of the older members whose main job is groundwork.
“It just feels natural to work without t-shirts and things like that, working naked in the garden.”
He said it was also a bonding way to meet people. When everyone is naked, there are no barriers. Friendships and friendships are formed.
The father-of-three said raising children was also a good lifestyle.
“It gives them a much broader, liberal view of what life is about.”
Pineglades sits on seven acres on Brookside Rd, with beautiful gardens frequented by native birds and intertwined with walking trails. It has sports courts, a children’s play area, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a spa and sauna complex and a clubhouse with a licensed bar and BBQ area.
It has baches that the members own. They stay on weekends and holidays; a few members live there permanently. Baches have kitchenettes and running water, while bathrooms are communal. There is also an area for caravans and a few bungalows owned by the club are rented to visitors on a nightly basis.
The club has about 180 finance members.
“It’s a far cry from the 1970s when I believe the number when I joined was around 500 or 600,” Saunders said.
In its early years, Pineglades was called the Canterbury Sun and Health Club. It was on the rural outskirts of Rolleston, while today it is surrounded by houses.
Saunders said the members look out for each other. A loyal fellow club, which undertook much of the communal building work on the site, was replacing rotten windows in the garden of an 80-year-old member.
Members are currently looking forward to the club’s annual volleyball match with Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigade, on 4 February. Club members don’t wear anything except items they can add for protection from the sun or warmth, while firefighters wear shorts and T-shirts.
“A few years ago they had special t-shirts made that said: ‘Next year we will play naked. Yes correct!’ with a tui on it,” Saunders said.
A common question on online forums was whether there was anything sexual about naturist clubs.
“It’s not. In fact, we’d be a much stronger moral group than you’re likely to find at many golf clubs or tennis clubs. It would break the structure of here if everyone was swinging and ranting. I’m not going to say it never happened, but overall we behave with decency, respect and self-respect,” he said.
“If people here think they’re going to pick up a one-night stand or an affair, that’s the wrong reason (to be here).”
Saunders said he was looking forward to taking on the role of president of the national federation and expected his experience as a judge would help.
He said the philosophy behind naturism was well described in the international federation’s mission statement: “Naturism is living in harmony with nature, with self-respect and respect for others.”
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