KEY POINTS:
A group of Haast women have braved the cold and thrown off their clothes in a nude calendar shoot to raise funds for two men convicted of stealing greenstone from the West Coast.
The 12 women were raising money for David and Morgan Saxton who were jailed for more than two years in February after being found guilty of stealing Ngai Tahu greenstone (pounamu) from South Westland's Cascade Plateau.
They were also required to pay the South Island's largest iwi $300,000 in compensation .
David Saxton, 62, was jailed for two years nine months and Morgan Saxton, 30, for two years six months.
Both helicopter pilots - credited with many rescue missions in South Westland, Fiordland and Central Otago - have lodged appeals against their convictions and sentences in the Court of Appeal.
One of the calendar girls Tasha Jones - Miss September - told NZPA the photos were "tastefully discreet" .
"All the scenes are a reflection of their life in Haast, things that have been in their everyday work environment as well as the countryside."
The women, aged between 20 and 56, and of "all shapes", were protesting against the length of the sentence the men received.
"They've given us the shirts off their backs for many years and it is now time for us to give them ours."
The photos were all taken within a week about two weeks ago - right when the weather was starting to turn wintery.
"It was a bit chilly. I was having to get mine done at 7.30am and it was a howling easterly coming down the valley," Ms Jones said.
The calendar is to be released on Saturday at the Hard Antler Bar and Cafe in Haast.
Proceeds of the sale would be going to the Saxton Appeal Trust, Ms Jones said.
- NZPA
