Maryse Godden, The Sun, May 3, 2017

A post shared by Jaylene Cook (@jaylenecook_) on Apr 28, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

A Playboy model has upset locals after she posed naked on a sacred Maori mountain in New Zealand.

Jaylene Cook, 25, decided to strip off for a photo to feel “freedom and empowerment” after a 12-hour hike to the top of Mount Taranaki on Wednesday.

Her photographer boyfriend Josh Shaw, 27, took the snap showing the playmate wearing just her trainers, gloves and a hat as she admired the view.

Jaylene posted the picture to her 295,000 Instagram followers with the words: “This climb has forever changed me. I proved just how far I could push myself and I am truly proud of my accomplishment.”

“This mountain was steep, rugged, ever changing and just pure brutal! Safe to say, I will never do it again.”

Maori academic Dennis Ngawhare told Stuff.co.nz: “I’d imagine you will be getting a few comments from people saying, ‘What’s wrong with that? Who cares?’ But I also know cousins and relatives who will be quite upset about it. They would consider it as being disrespectful towards the mountain.”

Mr Ngawhare said his family has never climbed the mountain because they regard it as the tribe’s ancestor.

He added: “I accept people climb up to the summit, but what we do ask is that people be respectful.”

“It’s culturally insensitive and not what I would expect someone to do on the summit of Mt Taranaki.”

Jaylene, who lives with Josh on the Gold Coast in Australia, said she didn’t think the photo would offend anyone.

She said they did their research before hiking to the top and didn’t stand on the head of the mountain.

The glamour model said: “[The photo’s] not crude or explicit in any way. We made ourselves knowledgeable on the history of the mountain. We were quite respectful.

“Being nude is not something that is offensive in any way. It’s natural and pure and it’s about freedom and empowerment.”

Jaylene was given the title of Playmate after she was featured in Playboy Mexico in January.

She is touring around New Zealand with her boyfriend who took the nude photo.

According to Māori mythology Mt Taranaki was initially located in the centre of the North Island, but lost a mighty battle with another mountain for the heart of pretty Mount Pihanga.

The area is considered the burial ground of the tribe’s ancestor and is itself seen as an ancestor.

They believe climbing to the top of the peak is inappropriate and is only very rarely done for ceremonial purpose.

Tourists are advised not to not stand directly on the summit stone, and do not litter or camp on the summit.