There is concern about a rise of public nudity on Auckland’s Waiheke Island.

Local resident Micah Courtney has seen an increase of it across the island’s beaches.

She told Mike Hosking that she went to two different beaches last week and saw four naked women and a naked man within half an hour.

“It was a bit awkward for me and I didn’t mentally prepare myself for that.”

The island has two beaches, known as Little Onetangi and Little Palm, are known as nudist beaches on the island but are not formally known as that.

Courtney says that the people she saw were not on those beaches.

She says that while it is not illegal to be naked at the beach, people should consider if they might be offending others.

“I think it should be common sense and having consideration for other people around you.”

Courtney raised the issue in a Facebook post, sparking debate amongst the community as to whether or not people should do it.

LISTEN TO MICAH COURTNEY TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE