Outrage after naked Playmate scales Mt Taranaki

Playmate Jaylene Cook climbed Mt Taranaki, posing naked for images near the summit. Photo / Josh Shaw

Playboy playmate Jaylene Cook has scaled Mt Taranaki in a nude photo shoot, but not everyone has taken kindly to the stunt.

The glamour model, who is touring the country with her photographer boyfriend Josh Shaw, posted the photo to Instagram which has attracted more than 8000 likes.

But one Maori academic said the photo was culturally insensitive and disrespected the mountain.

"I also know cousins and relatives who will be quite upset about it. They would consider it as being disrespectful towards the mountain," Maori academic Dennis Ngawhare told Fairfax.

He said he believes iwi and hapu in Taranaki share his thoughts.

Cook defended her decision to go nude, saying she and her partner did their research before hiking to the summit of Mt Taranaki.

View this post on Instagram

WE DID IT!! This was BY FAR the hardest thing I have ever done! Both mentally and physically. 2 minutes out of the car park I was already hurting, sweating and ready to turn back 😂 But it's amazing what you can accomplish with the encouragement and support of your partner! I could not have done this without you babe @thejoshshaw! • 🏔 Mount Taranaki Summit 🔭 9000ft ❄️ -11'C/35km winds 🏃🏻‍♀️ 12.6km (1.6km elevation) ⏰ 2am - 6.30pm (12hr hike time) • This climb has forever changed me. I proved just how far I could push myself and I am truely proud of my accomplishment. This mountain was steep, rugged, ever changing and just pure brutal! Safe to say, I will never do it again 😅

A post shared by @ jaylenecook_ on Apr 28, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

She said the photo isn't explicit and that being nude is a natural and powerful pleasure, something not to take offence to.

According to Cook, she waited until other trampers had left before undressing and posing for the camera.

Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke weighed in on the issue, saying the stunt was unexpected and culturally insensitive.

Cook was given the title of Playmate after she was featured in Playboy Mexico in January.

Cook was originally from Waikato before moving to the Gold Coast in Australia.