Call to end camping in town carpark

Kaikohe man Willy Maihi has called on the Far North District Council to put an immediate stop to freedom camping in the carpark opposite the town’s St John ambulance station.

Mr Maihi said residents around Maihi Memorial Park had reported finding human faeces, and that freedom campers the council had allowed to use the parking area were responsible.

“We have asked for toilets to be erected in the vicinity of the former BMX area for 15 years,” he said.

His trust would like to open its park to all freedom campers, providing the council was willing to provide facilities.

A council spokesman said the FNDC always recommended that campers use the Far North’s numerous commercial campgrounds and holiday parks, which were relatively inexpensive and provided facilities such as toilets and showers. However, it could not prevent people from staying overnight in their cars.

To help control that type of “camping,” however, it had designated seven free camping sites across the district, one of which was at Lindvart Park in Kaikohe. Because there were no public toilets there, it was designated only for self-contained vehicles.

“The council shares concerns about defecation in public areas, and relies on the public to inform staff where this is a problem,” he said.

“Our records show there have been no complaints or requests for service about this issue at Lindvart Park. There are currently no plans to build stand-alone public toilets.”

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones (left), kaumatua John Klaracich and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters at the dawn blessing of the project to rebuild the Opononi seawall.