Nude Calendars 'educational’ (Press, 17 March 1983)

On 17 March 1983, the Auckland District Court heard a case regarding the "Greystone Illustrated 1983" male nude calendars, which are being contested by the Lawrence Publishing Company, Ltd. The calendars are under scrutiny for alleged indecency under the Indecent Publications Act of 1963, with the Customs Department seeking their forfeiture. Judge Blackwood reserved his decision on the matter until 11 April 1983. Michael Ruffin, representing the Customs Department, argued that the key issue before the court was whether the calendars could be classified as indecent. The defence presented its case through Dr Aloma Colgan, a psychologist who had completed a thesis on the impact of explicit sex-related materials on human sexual behaviour. Dr Colgan provided her expert opinion, stating that societal attitudes towards nudity had evolved significantly over the past 20 to 25 years. She indicated that the naked human body was no longer viewed as a taboo or mystery, especially in family contexts. Dr Colgan suggested that while someone unfamiliar with nudity might find a reaction of surprise or shock to the calendars, the educational and beneficial effects of such exposure were likely to outweigh any potential harm. She emphasised that the photographs were not likely to cause injury and asserted that the dominant aspect of the calendars was the aesthetic representation of the male form, presented in an artistic manner with high-quality photography. During cross-examination, Dr Colgan reiterated her view that the calendars served an artistic purpose, aiming to display the male form in a visually appealing way. Brett Shepherd, a director and shareholder of the Lawrence Publishing Company, also provided testimony affirming that the decision to import the calendars was made after careful consideration of prior rulings from the Indecent Publications Tribunal regarding male frontal nudity. The outcome of the case remains pending, as Judge Blackwood considers the evidence and arguments presented by both sides. The resulting decision will determine the fate of the calendars and the implications for the definition of indecency in New Zealand.

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