Tougher penalties proposed in crackdown on irresponsible freedom campers
Tougher penalties and fines are on the cards as part of a proposed crackdown on irresponsible freedom camping with plans to hike the costs for those who break the rules.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has released a plan to hike the costs for those who break the rules and strengthen the standard for self contained vehicles, and is putting it to the people for their feedback.
He is clear about what he wants. “I would like non-self-contained campervans or vehicles to be banned.
But we are putting this out to consultation and I’m open to be swayed.
“There are too many stories up and down our country of tourists who are parking up in these vehicles in areas that don’t have facilities, and of course, the only place they can go to the toilets is by the roadside, in the rivers or in the bush, and that’s totally unacceptable,” Nash said.
Two options are making it mandatory for freedom campers to have a certified self-contained vehicle or allowing for non-certified vehicles if they are staying at a site with toilets.
He did not want to see the end of freedom camping, but wanted to see it done responsibly, by the rules, and in the right place.
The proposal would give stronger powers to enforce the rules including having a centralised vehicle register, adding more grounds for vehicles to be confiscated if they breach requirements, and strengthening the standard for self-contained vehicles.
This could include using plumbers and gas fitters to ensure toilets and other systems are properly installed.
The proposal could also increase fines to $1000. “A fine at the moment is $200. That’s not enough.”
And at present many tourists just skip the country and their fines, he said. They would also look at rental companies being liable for the fines incurred by their customers.
Tui Campers operations manager Trudy Williams said her company already chased up fines as they were the ones that got the notifications. But she wanted to see a few changes before the liability for paying unpaid fines falls completely on rental firms.
She said private and rental vehicles also needed to be categorised differently.
Mangawhai Heads Holiday Park manager Richard Gunson wants freedom camping banned from all 50km/ h zones unless the local authority approved it after public consultation.
“We would like to get some protection from the thievery that goes on.”
Overall, Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts was pleased with the proposals.
Queenstown Lakes district mayor Jim Boult was also pleased.
“Hats off to the minister for addressing this. It has been a sore point . . . for a number of years.”
Submissions close in the middle of next month.