CORRECTION
The Kinloch Triathlon is taking place on Sunday, February 10.
The incorrect date was included in the Taupo¯ Times’ January 30 edition, in two articles on page 3.
DELAYED DELIVERY
Because of Waitangi Day on Tuesday next week, the Taupo¯ Times will be delivered a day later than usual, on Wednesday.
FREEDOM CAMPING
In response to David Jopson’s letter published on January 16 we would like to say the Taupo¯ District Council’s Freedom Camping by-law is actually very permissive and his criticism of the Council is unfair.
His complaint is solely that he (and other responsible campers) have been barred from parking overnight on Ferry Road. There are plenty of other places in Taupo for motorhomes to park - so basically Mr Jopson is complaining that he has lost his privilege of free parking in the most prominent place in our town. Our response is ‘tough’.
The ratepayers and residents of Taupo do not want Freedom Campers (responsible or otherwise) parking in Ferry Road. This location is the ‘dress circle’ of Taupo: close to town and with magnificent views. It should be available to all (locals and visitors alike) instead of being monopolised by motorhomes as it was before the new by-law.
Motorhomes are very welcome to park in the many other permitted areas in and around Taupo and Motor Home Association members have their own excellent park at the airport.
Freedom camping is a difficult issue. Ratepayers and residents do not want parts of their town turned into a campground. Freedom camping should be allowed only in the areas where it has minimal impact on the ‘locals’. Ferry Road is not such a place.
To be honest ‘Freedom Camping’ is a misnomer. There are no free lunches and someone pays. The problem with Freedom Camping is that it is not the ‘campers’ that pay but the ratepayers who have to pay rates to maintain, service and monitor the Freedom Camping zones and surrounding infrastructure.
In our view the council’s new Freedom Camping by-law is too permissive. It is likely to cause further problems as the ownership and use of motorhomes in NZ increases.
We respectfully suggest to Mr Jopson and others of the same view that they take care in