Pop-up campsite mooted for city
Private investors are interested in financing a proposed network of freedom camping pods that could include one in Christchurch.
Chris Wagner opened a KiwiCamp pod at his Riverlands truck stop last March, and with help from a group of angel investors he hopes to get another 12 up and running this year.
Fox Glacier was among the proposed sites, and he said potential investors in Akaroa, Westport and Christchurch were also keen on the portable modular units that could be built in a Blenheim factory for $100,000 per unit, half the cost of the original design.
The pods provide free toilets, and charge travellers via a KiwiCash app for overnight parking, laundry facilities, showers, a sink for dish washing and wi-fi.
The owner of vacant land in the Christchurch CBD was interested in putting in a temporary ‘‘pop up’’ pod for a couple of years, which would help bring young travellers back into the city. ‘‘At the moment they’re all going to the Selwyn District because freedom camping is banned.’’
Wagner tried marketing the concept directly to councils, but said they were resistant to the idea of spending money on facilities primarily used by tourists.
His Riverlands KiwiCamp earned $500 a day on the basis of each user paying $10 a night, so he decided private investment was the answer, with councils possibly leasing suitable land to operators.
His idea has support from Christchurch City councillor Jamie Gough, who said a freedom camping unit in the CBD could provide an ‘‘elegant solution’’ at a time when it was in dire need of more customers, and would also head off opposition from residents over funding.
‘‘There’s potential for a public backlash if local authorities are putting ratepayer money into this sort of stuff.’’
Wagner said a unit planned for Fox Glacier would give campers somewhere to park up while they did their laundry.
‘‘You can park up, plug your campervan in, start charging it, and then walk into town, have a coffee and do your shopping while washing is being done ... It means [travellers] stay longer in the town so they spend more money.’’
Wagner is also marketing his KiwiCash app to established campgrounds as a way of cutting staff costs because they do not need to have anyone on hand to book people in or take payments.