Stricter freedom camping rules for tourists
Freedom campers could face stricter rules, including tougher requirements for vehicles and new fines for breaches.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said new rules were needed to protect the environment, remove the burden on locals and lift the quality of tourism, as he launched a public consultation yesterday.
Proposed changes include tighter rules – either for camping vehicles to be certified self-contained to stop campers toileting in inappropriate places, or tougher rules around where freedom camping can take place.
Fines of up to $1000 or vehicle confiscation have been mooted for those who don’t play by the rules – up from a $200 fine – with a requirement for rental companies to collect fines.
Nash said a group of visitors were abusing freedom camping rules, and spoiling the experience for responsible campers, while leaving locals to clean up the mess. He would like to see non-self-contained vans and vehicles banned from camping use, but said the other option was for them to be allowed only in campgrounds and DOC camps.
Nash thought councils – which will be required to police the new rules – would be largely supportive of them. ‘‘In Northland, growing pressure from a surge in freedom camping saw Whanga¯rei ban the practice at coastal sites this summer. Marlborough District Council found 500 vehicles tried to illegally camp over summer. Golden Bay locals say bird nesting sites are threatened by campers. In Queenstown, freedom camping was banned within city limits,’’ he said.
Nash said backpackers, budget travellers and responsible campers were welcome in New Zealand, but freedom camping must be in the right vehicle and in the right place. ‘‘Improving freedom camping regulations will go a long way to changing campers’ behaviour and protecting Brand New Zealand.
‘‘Abuse of the system threatens the unique and precious qualities that make us such a desirable tourism destination in the first place.’’
The consultation comes as New Zealand prepares to open its border with Australia in a trans-Tasman bubble. Nash said it was important to set the rules now, before New Zealand fully reopens to international tourists following the Covid-19 pandemic. Desire to come to New Zealand was at an all-time high, in part thanks to the country’s response to Covid-19, Nash said.
‘‘Changes will also support small business owners who run campgrounds or backpackers’ hostels, who have lost business. Private campgrounds offer sites from around $20 a night. DOC has hundreds of campsites, many of which are free or as low as $6 a night.’’
If people could not afford those costs, Nash questioned if they were wanted in New Zealand.
Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult supported Nash’s move to tighten the rules on what constituted a self-contained motor vehicle.
Any vehicle without a toilet in a separate room should go to a camping ground, he said.
In 2019, there was a ‘‘mess’’ in the district with people using the outdoors as a toilet and camping wherever they liked, Boult said.
‘‘We put new rules and bylaws in and it largely addressed the problem,’’ he said.
The Queenstown-Lakes District attracted the second highest number of freedom campers in New Zealand in 2019, with 137,000 camping nights, according to research from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Only the Tasman district was higher with 151,000. Christchurch city was third with 128,000.
The council still struggled to collect the fines imposed, so Boult was pleased with the provision that rental car companies would collect them. However, people who bought second-hand Subarus and dumped them before leaving New Zealand were more problematic, he said.
The discussion document seeks public feedback on four main proposals, but other ideas are also welcome.
‘‘Improving freedom camping regulations will go a long way to changing campers’ behaviour and protecting Brand New Zealand.’’
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash