Georgina Kirk (from left), Clare McMahon and Laura Schmitt test public reaction to their attire. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Georgina Kirk (from left), Clare McMahon and Laura Schmitt test public reaction to their attire. Photo / Sarah Ivey
KEY POINTS:
Mt Maunganui shoppers are untroubled about answering the age-old question: when do togs become undies?
New Zealanders appear to be more liberal than the Caribbeans when it comes to showing off a bit of skin.
Following a ban on Speedos and bikinis away from the beach on theisland of Grenada in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, the Weekend Herald tried an experiment in Mt Maunganui.
We couldn't find any men donning budgie smugglers to take part but we did get bikini-clad 16-year-olds Laura Schmitt and Clare McMahon to walk down the the main drag, Maunganui Rd - about 300m from the beach on one side and 200m from the harbour side - at lunchtime to gauge public reaction.
Although the girls got a few admiring looks from male diners in the busy cafes, no one appeared fazed by the attire.
They were more interested in what the Weekend Herald photographer was doing.
The Aquinas College students, who were doing a spot of shopping before hitting the beach, said they had no qualms about walking around town with their bikinis on.
"If I was on holiday or I'd just been to the beach it would be sweet," said Clare.
"Guys wear board-shorts and no tops all the time. There's nothing bad about it. It's a bit weird if there's no beach around but we're right in it."
Mount Mainstreet Shopping Centre manager Les Cresswell said no one batted an eyelid when people wore their swimwear in the town.
"We would have very few people on the street if it were banned from here. It's quite common.
"We're right next to the beach and the harbour. We're on a very narrow peninsula so it's really a water sports area and what's the use of changing out of your gear from the beach to wander through the main shopping centre.
He said the dresses some girls wore in non-seaside areas showed as much skin as a bikini.
Some cafes in the area only served diners wearing shoes but they didn't mind patrons wearing swimwear especially since many offered alfresco dining. Restaurants might be stricter, he said.
