Freedom camping discussed
Mayors, deputy mayors and council staff from around the country joined tourism industry representatives and two Government ministers to discuss the issue of freedom campers.
The practice has proved highly controversial in New Plymouth and in other areas.
A report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment released last week showed the number of international visitors who undertook some freedom camping in New Zealand almost doubled in two years, from
60,000 in the year ended 2015 to about 110,000 in the year ended
2017.
At a conference in Nelson this week, Minister for Conservation and Land Information Eugenie Sage said concerns had been highlighted in the media about ‘‘inappropriate disposal of human waste’’, antisocial behaviour, vehicles blocking views and congestion at some sites.
Tourism was the country’s leading export industry and 3.6 million people visited last year, up from
2.5m in 2011 ‘‘and as we know, it’s continuing to grow’’.
Sage asked attendees about the economic benefit of freedom camping, whether users were contributing enough, to what extent should New Zealanders be subsidising the campers and how to provide the facilities needed.
Sage said she expected councils to highlight the issue of itinerant workers via a new working group, which is expected to have its first meeting by May 4 and report to Davis by no later than July 31 with an outline of its planned work programme and any progress.
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said her family hesitated to stop in some places. ‘‘We kind of got the feeling ... the locals were so sick and tired of people stopping where they shouldn’t be,’’ she said. ‘‘I respect that in small communities; I think they’re overcome.’’