Govt pledges $8.5m fix for freedom camping
The Government has agreed to put $8.5 million into fixing freedom camping problems that have plagued popular scenic spots over recent summers.
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis said the funding would be available for a series of fixes recommended by the Responsible Camping Working Group, a body set up in April with representatives from government agencies, councils and the tourism industry.
The money allocated to 28 local authorities will largely be spent on toilet and camping facilities, education and signage, and employing more staff.
Major recipients include West Coast councils ($1.6m), Queenstown Lakes District ($530,000), and the Mackenzie and Waitaki Districts ($548,000).
‘‘The next peak season is fast approaching and I want people to be able to camp responsibly while ensuring the facilities are in place to support our communities,’’ Davis said.
He said not all the solutions put forward by the working group would be in place by this summer, and he would consider longer-term legislative and regulatory changes.
Local Government New Zealand president Dave Cull said the funding provided some relief to ratepayers footing the bill for tourism infrastructure, but a local tourism levy was still needed in the long term to help pay for facilities used by both residents and visitors.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive and working group member Chris Roberts said the latest initiatives were a good start, but there was no quick fix and longer-term changes were needed.
According to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the 110,000 international tourists who did some freedom camping last year accounted for just 3 per cent of all visitors, and they spent $530m.