Freedom Camper takeover

NEW ZEALAND attracts more than 2 million tourists each year, and freedom camping is a popular option for those looking for a more adventurous way to explore our beautiful country.

But as it now stands, freedom camping is no longer in the best interests of New Zealand because it is causing a horrific amount of pollution in our communities.

I believe we need to do something about this situation in New Zealand before our beautiful environment is permanently destroyed.

As the number of tourists continues to grow, more complaints are being made by residents about freedom campers littering, washing in drinking fountains, lighting fires for cooking and even defecating in public places and not cleaning it up.

According to media reports, 42 complaints about freedom campers were received between December 1 last year and January 29 this year — and that was just in the New Plymouth region.

This clearly shows that freedom campers are having a major impact on the communities they are staying in, and on the locals’ ability to enjoy their own public spaces.

So what are we already doing to try to resolve this freedom camping issue?

Some councils have enforced bans on freedom camping at specific sites in their region.

There are more than 200 sites in New Zealand where freedom camping is prohibited or restricted, including car parks, bays, reserves and parks.

On December 1, 2017, Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult announced new freedom camping bans in the Queenstown district at the north end of Lake Hayes and at the Shotover Delta.

The intention of these bans is to stop careless travellers using the districts as giant toilets.

But in reality, these restrictions aren’t reducing the amount of pollution left behind. It is merely diverting it to other places.

We can’t just ban all freedom campers as our economy relies too heavily on the money they bring into the country, so what can we do to fix the freedom camping problem?

I believe the answer to the problem is simple.

Local authorities and councils need to set aside approved freedom camp sites where there are toilets, solarheated showers, washing facilities and rubbish bins.

How hard is that?

All freedom campers require is a parking space, a toilet and a rubbish bin — a shower is a bonus, but most motorhomes will have their own.

The problem we have is the existing commercial camping sites are getting too expensive.

Camper Tony Sayers shared his experience of being asked for $25 per night for an unpowered tent site for himself and his two children.

He said he drove away to find a spot on the roadside instead.

This shows that if the price for unpowered sites at commercial camping grounds wasn’t so unrealistic, then the freedom campers would actually use the commercial camping grounds and we wouldn’t have a problem to begin with.

Additionally, I think the issues around the incorrect disposal of human waste are exacerbated by some of the rental companies that the freedom campers are hiring their vehicles from.

Some of these companies actually charge for the emptying of the toilets in the vehicles when they are returned, and some offer a $20 refund if the toilet hasn’t been used.

This should be illegal as it is encouraging the freedom campers not to use the toilets in their vehicles because they don’t want to pay any extra money.

So as you can see, the freedom camping situation in New Zealand is getting extremely out of hand and it is starting to have a damaging effect on our country, land and people.

It is time that we started taking action to fix the problem before the damage is irreversible.