Freedom camping banned

Freedom camping will be banned throughout most of Akaroa this summer. Only 18 selfcontained campers with toilets on board will be able to stay at any one time in a designated area in the village. They can stay for up to two nights in any 30-day period. The Christchurch City Council agreed to put the ban in place at its meeting yesterday, after receiving complaints from the public about the behaviour of freedom campers last summer. Eighteen car parks will be made available to self-contained campers in the Akaroa Boat Park, near the Akaroa Croquet Club. The new rules will come into force on December 1. Christchurch deputy mayor Andrew Turner said the new rules would be enforced seven days a week and at times when campers were sleeping.