Freedom campers forced together
Freedom campers across Tauranga and the Western Bay have been asked to relocate to the closest of three remaining sites being kept open for the rest of the lockdown period.
Sites across the sub-region were closed on Friday 3rd April, to minimise ongoing movement between communities and any spread of COVID-19. Western Zone Civil Defence Controller Paul Davidson says closures are necessary to ensure safety.
“We’ve become aware of several people camping in our area that don’t have one location to remain at. We have identified three central sites for people - with access to water, food, health care and waste disposal while we remain at Level 4 restrictions. Closures will be supported, monitored and enforced by Bay of Plenty Police,” he says.
Five German tourists had been sharing a “bubble” of five cars, camping at Ōmokoroa Domain. They’d been visited by the Police previously and were found to be self-isolating according to the rules.
Lynn, Nicole, Catherine and Oliver from Hamburg met Jan Schilling, from the Black Forest south of Freiburg, in Auckland and then the Mount before arriving in Ōmokoroa
together. Jan spoke to Lizard News by phone before their enforced move.
“We are playing it safe, not causing any trouble. One woman has come and taken photos of us and stuck her fingers up at us. An older guy told us to go back to our country, saying we are not wanted here.
“Others have approached from a safe distance to ask if we are OK. We are in good health and happy to be here. The weather is good, so we can sit outside to eat and drink in the fresh air.
“Before we arrived we had turned down the chance to go to a hostel with other travellers because we thought that would be a higher chance of cross-contamination,” he says.
The three sites are Commerce Lane, Te Puke - Marine Park, Tauranga - and Uretara Domain, Katikati. Anyone staying in a tent or a non-self-contained vehicle should contact the Temporary Accommodation Service on 0508 754 163.