Mixed reaction to proposed freedom camper ban
A call to ban freedom camping at Golden Bay’s most popular designated spots has stirred up a mixed reaction from locals and travellers.
While some might be relieved to put a halt to freedom camping in the holiday destination, which is inundated by travellers over the summer months, others are worried that it could damage tourism.
The Golden Bay Community Board this week made a bold move and called on the Tasman District Council to ban freedom camping in all of Golden Bay, except for the Motupipi car park site in Takaka. Board chairwoman Abbie Langford described it as ‘‘drawing a line in sand’’ over the contentious issue.
Her comments come after concerns were raised by members of the Golden Bay community, including iwi, about the popular designated freedom camping site at Waitapu Bridge.
But it’s not just travellers. For years, groups of people who don’t have permanent homes have caused a stir in the community by setting up campsites along the Takaka River, including at Waitapu Bridge, to stay long-term.
Golden Bay resident Jeff Riorden said he supported the ban.
‘‘As a long-term local, I think it’s a real shame what’s happening – the places we used to go for picnics are getting overtaken by freedom campers, and you hear what’s left behind and it’s not good for the environment.
‘‘I actually don’t believe they bring a lot of value to the community, or money.’’
However, not all locals are enamoured with the idea. Takaka cafe owner Wayne Green called it ‘‘shooting yourself in the foot’’.
‘You might be looking at 600 [freedom campers] living day to day [in Golden Bay], they are all buying stuff from the supermarket, shops in town, cafes . . . that’s a lot of money.’’
He said the foreigners were ‘‘made out to be broke’’ but were just trying to stretch their money.
‘‘If they stop [freedom camping], it would make a lot of people happy, but for us relying on tourists, it could be significant.’’
Green said the community should ‘‘make something positive’’ out of freedom camping.
Choco Loco co-owner Gay Hamilton said she was ‘‘horrified’’ and ‘‘disappointed’’ by the call to ban freedom camping.
‘‘They’re getting rid of all tourists, even the older tourists in the big campervans, or families, travelling in the shoulder seasons,’’ she said.
‘‘Certainly the vast majority of people who are travelling spend money. I know they do – because I see them.
‘‘It’s not a good decision. I hope they have discussed it with businesses who are trying to promote Golden Bay.’’
Langford said the board didn’t want to take business away from the community, and some locals had misunderstood the rationale behind the ban.
‘‘We are wanting to ban it from spots that are environmentally and culturally important, not completely,’’ she said.
‘‘We want to protect our really important local spots . . . we need a paddock somewhere [for freedom camping], and there’s plenty of car parks they can go.’’
Cynthia McConville of Forest & Bird has called for ban along all rivers, streams and coastlines, due to the micro-litter left by campers and its impact on the marine environment.
On recent walks around the Waitapu Bridge site, she said, she had picked up clothing, a 10-litre motor oil can, cigarette butts, bottle tops, plastic straws, foil food wrappers, packaging, receipts, tape, string and velcro.
‘‘You can see the plastic in the mud of the Waitapu Estuary.’’
Lia Zimmerman, a 19-year-old freedom camper from Germany, said she might not be able to afford to come to Golden Bay if she had to stay in holiday parks.
‘‘We have a pretty low budget,’’ she said from her campsite at Waitapu Bridge yesterday.
‘‘The free camping spots are such a good opportunity for people on a cheap budget to see beautiful places . . . it’s very unfortunate if they just completely [ban it].
‘‘We had some campers [this morning] who left a little bit of rubbish, but as campers, as a community, a guy came over and asked us if [the rubbish] is ours, and then he took it away. So I think there’s a balance . . . as a [freedom camping] community, overall, I think they are respectful.’’
Sarah Hyams, a freedom camper from Britain, said people came specifically to Golden Bay because they could stay at beautiful spots.
‘‘We would probably still come [to the Bay] because it’s so beautiful, and find a way to afford it . . . you have sort of missed out if you don’t come here.’’
‘‘The places we used to go for picnics are getting overtaken by freedom campers, and you hear what’s left behind, and it’s not good for the environment.’’ Jeff Riorden, Golden Bay resident