Call for free use of camping sites

The Department of Conservation (DOC) could transform freedom camping and relieve migrant poverty by allowing free access to its campsites, a lodge owner says.

Kinloch Lodge owner Toni Glover said the post-Covid return of freedom campers had started. Some were camping at the head of Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown, and using the area next to the nearby Glacier Burn walking track as a toilet.

Up to 15 vans were parking at the Glacier Burn car park, which is a legal freedom camping spot, but it appeared many were not selfcontained, she said.

Only three kilometres away, a DOC campsite with toilet facilities was available but campers were unwilling or unable to pay $15 per person a night to stay there.

She understood many were working holiday visa holders who had been stuck in New Zealand.

DOC could relieve their financial pressure and pressure on the environment by offering free camping passes for their remaining time in New Zealand, she said.

The campers’ vehicles would be assessed for safety. The system would improve the current region by region rules by having a nationwide approach. The department could use the same model to create a camping pass for people to buy in the future, Glover said.

Current passes can only be purchased by NZ Motor Caravan Association members and some rental car companies.

DOC Whakatipu operations manager Geoff Owen said the department was considering a national campsite season pass in time for summer.

Glover said many overseas visitors believed they could buy a $2000 van and sleep anywhere they liked in New Zealand. ‘‘We need to get away from that reputation.

‘‘Now we have an opportunity while we’ve got no new tourists here to look at the way we manage freedom camping and the way we manage tourism.

‘‘All eyes are on New Zealand. Everyone is going to want to come here and we need to protect pure New Zealand.’’

Queenstown Lakes District Council camping programme manager Tim Dowson said many campers his team had spoken to since lockdown were migrant workers. Enforcement teams were out but there were not as many campers as expected, he said.