Camping ambassadors wanted

Budding diplomats with a penchant for sun, surf and out of the way camping spots take heed – there may be a job for you in New Plymouth.

The district council is on the hunt for two camping ambassadors to help keep visiting freedom campers on the straight and narrow this summer.

With border restrictions still in force, English is likely to be the main language the diplomats will need to employ, and keen negotiation skills are a must.

The two positions, which will pay an equivalent salary of between $43,992 and $45,825, are there to advise campers.

‘‘You will welcome visitors, assist them with any queries they may have and educate them of the rules in the Freedom Camping bylaw,’’ the job advertisement states.

New Plymouth has battled with the issue of freedom campers since the Lonely Planet travel guide listed Taranaki as one of the best regions to visit in 2017, leading to a relative influx of the van-driving tourists.

Outright bans, seasonal restrictions and designated parking areas have all been tried to control the campers’ impact on the district’s most popular sites.

Residents often complained the campers were putting too great a strain on public toilets, rubbish facilities and also damaging flora and fauna, with ratepayers picking up the bill.

The Government-funded ambassadors, which were employed last summer in South Taranaki, are the latest peacekeeping tactic.

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the ambassadors worked well in South Taranaki, which had previously had problems with too many freedom campers crowding into popular spots, overwhelming facilities.

‘‘We know that this freedom-camping challenge that we have isn’t solved so let’s keep trying things until we can get it right,’’ he said.

Holdom said he and his dad met a German couple freedom camping in Rotorua, and he wanted his own children to be able to have a similar experience overseas.

But he wanted them to do it in a way that did not damage the environment or require a subsidy from the area’s ratepayers.

‘‘What we want to do is find a sweet spot where tourism is sustainable and it doesn’t lose its special place.’’

Candidates for the job should know councillor Murray Chong, whose ute is often adorned with a camping cab, is not convinced toothless ambassadors are the answer.

‘‘Everyone would just park anywhere because they’re not going to be fined,’’ Chong said.

He is also sceptical two ambassadors would be able to adequately cover the district’s freedom camping spots, which are spread between Oakura in the south and Tongaporutu in the north.

‘‘There’s no way they can cover those areas,’’ Chong said.

‘‘People will cotton on to what time they come, and they’ll just come after that.’’

Those interested in the positions should not delay putting their hat in the ring.

The district council would not reveal how many people had applied so far, other than the response to the job advertisement had been ‘‘great’’.

‘‘While there won’t be many international visitors, we’re expecting more Kiwis to visit Taranaki and fill that gap as we all plan a Covid summer staycation,’’ a council spokesperson said.