Rule plea over free camping

Freedom camping needs more regulation without being stopped, New Plymouth deputy mayor Richard Jordan said after a meeting with tourism minister Kelvin Davis.

On Thursday Jordan represented the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) in Wellington at a meeting of 32 councils to discuss freedom campers staying for free at picturesque sites.

The meeting discussed freedom camping as a rite of passage for New Zealanders, but one that needs clear rules, he said.

‘‘There has to be some national regulation and registration around what a freedom camper is and the certification that goes with it.’’

Most councils were in agreement with NPDC’s direction, he said. ‘‘We suggested that while freedom camping can be regarded as a rite of passage there definitely needs to be some regulation around it.’’

NPDC passed a bylaw allowing freedom camping in December 2017. It was revoked a month later after more than 40 complaints about campers at Waiwhakaiho.

Freedom campers are banned from the Waiwhakaiho river mouth until April 30.

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis was ‘‘there to listen, a little bit like the rest of us’’, Jordan added.

‘‘We were trying to get an understanding of how to deal with it and still maintain what we think is a New Zealand tradition. Not all freedom campers are overseas visitors. You can’t differentiate.’’

Jordan also suggested the Tourism Infrastructure Fund could be easier for councils to access, as many smaller centres struggled to pay the costs of putting in facilities. ‘‘Hopefully there will be something in place prior to the next summer season.’’