Freedom campers by the droves
It may not be dirty little surprises left in bushes that threaten to cloud the classic summer road trip, but the sheer number of campervans and tourists instead.
Despite the bad reputation created by irresponsible toileting habits of a few overseas campers, the squeeze may be coming as much from home-grown travellers, who represent 80 per cent of the freedom camping market.
The upcoming December to February period looks set to be the busiest on record, but some are choosing to stay at home rather than wrestle for space in crowded hotspots.
The number of international freedom campers has more than tripled in the last decade and Kiwi motorhome travellers were also taking to our roads like never before.
That’s putting pressure on facilities and increasing congestion – while, on the positive side, foreign freedom campers alone spend over $500 million a year.
New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) chief executive Bruce Lochore predicted congestion around the hotspots was likely where tempers would flare, more than incidents around irresponsible ablutions.
‘‘Responsible camping is more about numbers that it is around the issues around freedom camping.
‘‘The horror stories you see of defecating [in public places] and stuff like that, it happens but it’s few and far between. The real issues that you have are around sheer numbers. That goes hand in hand with the increase in tourism, full stop.’’
Freedom camping is governed by the Freedom Camping Act, which makes it a permitted activity everywhere within local authority or conservation boundaries unless an area was specifically identified as a prohibited or restricted.
Rules also apply to different vehicle types, whether they meet self-containment standards and how they can be used in a freedom camping scenario.
Much of the pressures created by the burgeoning freedom camping market are borne by local councils, which have to service many of the facilities that are used.
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy was introduced in July this year to help fund those areas directly affected by increased tourism.
While bad behaviour has often been blamed on foreigners, Nga¯i Tu¯hoe Iwi of Te Urewera has a different perspective.
Like many places around the country, Tu¯ hoe has experienced its share of problems with freedom campers in the iwi’s traditional homeland.
Te Uruwera Board chairman Tamati Kruger said a minority of freedom campers were responsible for cutting down trees to clear sites, using the bush as a toilet and leaving rubbish – and most of the offenders were New Zealanders.
Kiwis were almost certainly responsible for an illegal camp site that was recently found within a kiwi sanctuary near Lake Waikaremoana.
Most people came to Te Urewera to experience a rare example of New Zealand’s unadulterated natural heritage.
Such activity in a sanctuary for the kiwi – a symbol of the country’s unique biodiversity – revealed an entitled behaviour that still existed among New Zealanders to spaces that should be for everyone, he said.
One Kiwi motorhome camper hit the headlines last year when she photographed an international tourist ‘‘toileting’’ on the beach. She said the behaviour hadn’t stopped.
Her biggest gripe was with international tourists who lied about having selfcontained toileting facilities by having fake stickers on their small vehicles.
‘‘The little wee vans and people movers that all have self-containment stickers on them, but there’s no way that they can have a toilet in there and use it at night time,’’ she said.
Tourism New Zealand has an education campaign that encourages people to use campsites and campgrounds where there are facilities to cater to them.
‘‘That’s about planning your journey and leaving no trace; not littering and using toilets,’’ spokeswoman Candice Johanson said.
Lynette Juno, of Masterton, packed it all in a couple of years ago and took to the road in her mobile home. She hasn’t looked back.
She travelled 24,000km across the country and has enjoyed just about every minute of it.
‘‘I absolutely love it. You see so much of the country and you see it slowly. You can take your time and visit the smaller towns that you haven’t seen before.’’
Juno said the roads would be getting congested this summer and she’d probably hole up with family during the height of the rush.
‘‘I would think that there are a lot more motorhomes on the road than when I started two years ago. You certainly notice it this time of year.’’
She said the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association did a fantastic job of looking after their members by providing facilities all over the country.
Juno didn’t resent the impact of young international travellers.
‘‘People moan about them being in the country because they’re not spending money, but they’re our own free advertising boards. They’re sending millions of photos a day home.
‘‘If we give them a good time, as they get older they’re going to bring the family out here and they’re going to spend a lot more money the second time around.’’
BY THE NUMBERS
The number of international freedom campers* increased from 30,000 in 2008 to 115,000 in 2018.
By 2018, these travellers were contributing $500 million to the economy per year.
Freedom campers spent around half the money per day as the average international tourist, but tended to stay longer and therefore spend more.
They were likely to travel to twice as many regions as the average tourist.
Australians made up the greatest proportion of freedom campers.
The NZ Motor Caravan Association has more than 90,000 members, increasing by about 10 per cent per year. * MBIE figures for international visitors who freedom camped while in New Zealand