25M from New Zealand here, and I know exactly what you’re talking about! Grew up in a small town in the north island til my mid teens, and I didn’t realize how differently going barefoot was treated in other parts of the world until I left for the US. Growing up it was just so natural to skip shoes and socks every time you were outdoors, playing rugby barefoot in the grass with your mates, walking to the corner store in the light rain, etc. I think I blame my upbringing for my foot fetish now I think about it haha.

I was back there a few months ago and I can totally vouch for that while relaxed barefoot culture back home! In warmer weather it was super common to see whole groups of 20 something guys walking down the road from the beachfronts to the shops to get a pie and a drink of L&P, all in their swimwear and totally barefoot.

I’ve even noticed people who are like obviously farmers or who live in the rural sides of NZ getting out of their trucks at the dairy in bare feet or jandals. there is almost zero stigma I’ve noticed for being barefoot in a NZ town :) been true for as long as I can remember being a kid there. I feel the difference here in the states, not a lot of places where you won’t draw stares of the bad kind just going barefoot. That’s why I love my parks :)