A meeting to discuss lewd nudist behaviour on a section of Papamoa Beach last night has resulted in agreement to monitor the situation and collect evidence of any criminal activity.

Concerned resident Shaun Gallagher, who instigated the meeting between residents and Mayor Stuart Crosby, says the meeting was successful with everyone agreeing to 'allow freedom of expression but not at the expense of causing offense.”

The major concern of residents was the level of nudist behaviour including homosexual activity and excessive parading.

Shaun says lots of solutions were discussed at the meeting and it was decided that residents will look at taking photographic evidence of any lewd or criminal activity.

Shaun says they may also look into placing warning notices on people's cars asking them to use the beach in a sensible manner.

Mayor Stuart Crosby was invited by Shaun to attend the meeting and says most residents accepted people's right to be nude, if it was discrete.

'While some people had an issue with nudism, most of them didn't see that as a key issue while it was discrete. We need to emphasise that.”

Stuart says residents are concerned about behaviour where nudists get up and deliberately parade in front of them and their children.

'The higher level of concern was the lewd behaviour and sexual acts that were taking place in the dunes, which is definitely criminal activity.

Stuart says the Council will to look into privacy laws around taking photos and placing notices on people's cars.

'We're not going to create a bylaw, because it won't work, and that wasn't the real issue.

'The issue was the potentially illegal activity.

'What we have given a commitment to do is to check on the privacy laws around taking photographic evidence and also leaving notices on vehicles.

'We may also enhance our signage there as well.”

Shaun says the nudity issue has been ongoing for some time and this is a step in the right direction.