G-string debate splits Taupō swimmers, mum calls for ban at public spots

Woman wearing g-string runs into water. Photo / Getty

Taupō mums fed up with seeing "g-strings" in the district's swimming spots have called for public signage banning the cheeky togs.

Kayla Edwards started a debate when she posted her concerns on social media two days ago.

She told NZME she felt uncomfortable taking her family swimming at Spa Thermal Park, a public reserve, because others there didn't know what "appropriate" swimwear was.

Edwards said she was shocked when more than 100 people replied to her Facebook post, many with "negativity and backlash".

"I actually expected that most people would agree... and maybe we could actually get a sign?"

She said she was labelled "jealous and a prude".

"I don't have to prove I'm hot by prancing around in public wearing a g-string. I have enough self-love to do that clothed respectfully."

She apologised to anyone who felt belittled but said her opinion hadn't changed.

"Maybe it is good that people are stirred to consider their moral standards."

Another Taupō mother, Renee Gray, backed Edwards.

She said she had often seen "g-string type bikinis" in the reserve.

Swimmers enjoying Spa Park in Taupō in 2018. Photo / Hamish John

She said her daughter thought the swimwear was rude "as I've taught her about dressing modestly".

Gray said she also often saw people "undressing right by the swimming spot instead of going up the walkway to use the changing rooms".

She was "horrified" one day when a middle-aged man "got out of the water and pulled his shorts down exposing [himself]'' next to her family.

"My daughter was disgusted being exposed to a man... and put her hand over her eyes."

"I do think council should put signage to say no nudity or undressing at local beaches."

Other locals had no issue with skimpy swimwear.

Bonnie Petrie, a Taupō resident of 15 years, told NZME "as long as private bits were covered, what does it matter?"

The former pole dancer and mother of twin girls said she "got naked in front of both women and men at least three nights a week, and did shows [for] some of the boating companies 10 years ago.

"They certainly weren't complaining, it was entertainment not sexualisation."

She said she had seen "a few others down at the lake wear g-strings, sunbathing mainly... and once a lady with her bikini top undone but face down on her blanket."

Petrie said women wanted respect "to breastfeed their babies in public without being looked at as lewd or inappropriate" but the post was "the complete opposite".

Another Taupō mother, who did not want to be named, told NZME she saw "a lot of people prancing around half-naked" in the district.

A triathlon competitior wearing a mankini to raise money for cancer treatment for a family member. Photo / File

"I've seen men in mankinis, women walking around in g-string bikinis and even the odd naked person getting changed in public. It's disgusting and it has to stop."

She said her husband hated seeing it, and most of her friends felt the same way.

"Yesterday two girls were walking into town in bikinis. How is this acceptable? It makes me damn right mad... I know they say 'if you have it, flaunt it' but this is ridiculous."

Teens wear bikini tops in a shopping area. Photo / File

Taupō solo dad Craig Smith disagreed with Edwards' concerns and said he had heard of people being abused over their swimwear.

"Small swimwear is definitely the fashion and it was everywhere in Napier where I visited last week and here at the lake as well. G-strings or pulling bikini bottoms high so the butt is showing is definitely very prevalent now."

Kinloch father Jason McIver laughed when he saw the post.

"Taupō is a warm, sunny, geothermal spot so seeing g-strings and breasts is nothing shocking... I try to make sure that my kids don't see nudity as bad and that it doesn't need to be sexualised."

In a brief comment, the Taupō District Council said it had not received any complaints about skimpy swimwear or public nudity at council-owned swimming sites in the last year.

Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort. Photo / File

Taupō DeBretts Spa Resort operations manager Mirela Petrar said the privately-owned facility did not have a policy on g-strings.

"We are a family orientated business but to my knowledge, we haven't had anyone raise concerns."

She said, "we have private pools if people want to be romantic or in a quiet area".