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A group of tourism industry bosses and mayors want more power to run the free camp, including a national vehicle track and trace database.
Natalie Akoorie, Local Democracy Reporter
Yet a longtime freedom camper worries that low-income Kiwi families will soon be excluded from some of the country’s most scenic spots.
In November, Tourism Minister Stuart Nash announced plans to ban van rentals to tourists unless there is a bathroom on board.
It follows years of bad behavior on the part of the freedom campers, many young international tourists, who bought or rented cheap vans that had no bathrooms, leaving their mess behind for city councils and residents to clean up.
In 2018, the Responsible Camping Task Force was established after protesters began blocking parking spots, taking car keys from visitors, and complaining in droves to the local government.
Tens of millions of dollars have been invested to solve the problems, including $ 60 million invested by the Tourism Infrastructure Fund on roads, toilets, showers, bus shelters and parking lots, and $ 25 million through the Fund for Responsible Camping in education and waste management and technology application, signs, pilots.
In recent months, some municipalities have changed their statutes to close free camps or ban any vehicle that is not autonomous.
Now a letter to Nash from members of the task force, including the mayors of New Zealand’s two biggest tourist destinations, urges him to go further.
A regulatory system for the current autonomous vehicle standard [SCVS]
Empower councils to determine where and how people camp for freedom
A national database to track and trace the vehicles that are camping in the wild, including those that certify the SCVS
Increase penalties for the freedom to camp in non-certified vehicles in designated autonomous vehicle sites and in places where the freedom to camp is prohibited or restricted
· Implement technology to help councils advise campers where they can and cannot camp.
She also asks Nash to consider expanding the Responsible Camping Fund to help councils manage more visitor numbers during the summer.
“We would also like you to consider investing in more innovative and technological solutions to support the management of camping freedom and potentially to test payment for local infrastructure services.”
The letter was signed in early and mid-December by Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult, Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick, Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan, Christchurch Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner, Executive Director of the New Zealand Caravan Association Bruce Lochore, Aotearoa Tourism Industry CEO Chris Roberts, Holiday Parks New Zealand CEO Fergus Brown and Tourism Holdings Ltd CEO Grant Webster.
The group said its number one priority was ensuring people can trust the autonomous vehicle standard.
But last year, a group called the Responsible Campers Association Inc [RACi] He said that the New Zealand Standard for Self Containment of Motorhomes and Motorhomes discriminates against many freedom campers.
That group said it excluded people in tents and was referring to divers, fishermen, surfers, hunters and others who only wanted to stay one night, could not without the certificate that required campers to be self-employed for at least three nights.
They said education was key, rather than fining people.
Fines of $ 200 can be applied to wrong vehicles, but the Freedom Camping Act of 2011 states that councils “must not absolutely prohibit freedom from camping,” and one council recently admitted that if a camper challenged the fine, it was not worth it. the cost of going to court.
To complicate matters, in 2019 it was revealed that some Freedom campers were obtaining or making separate decals for non-compliant vehicles.
Veteran freedom camper Paul Arthur said that if the minister made the changes sought in the letter, access to some of the best camping in the country would be inaccessible to the poorest New Zealanders.
“If things go their way, which will be because our friends are rich, well organized and have a plan, then we will have a very different New Zealand in a few years where the only people who can stay on the beaches are the rich or the landlords “.
Arthur said commercial campsites were often expensive options, as was owning or renting a self-contained caravan.
“I fear for the next generation of kiwis who would love to see more of our country, but will not be able to afford the ‘industry approved’ RV or stay in campgrounds at current prices.”
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult denied that ordinary New Zealanders would be lost if applications were submitted.
“The first thing we did was protect the rights of Kiwis to do what Kiwis have always done and that is to enjoy our outdoors.”
He did not believe that increased penalties, a track and trace system, or a regulatory system for vehicles would make the freedom to camp out of reach for low-income New Zealanders.
“This is all about ensuring that people don’t poop in the woods, take care of our environment, don’t wash their greasy dishes in our pristine lakes and rivers, and respect the locals when they go to other districts.”
An autonomous vehicle sign at a popular Freedom campsite. Source: Supplied
Boult said one-night visitors were the most important when the group, which includes the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, met.
“One of the long discussions we had was about surfers being able to sleep in the back of the car and enjoy the morning surf break, as I did as a teenager, as long as there is a place to go to the bathroom.”
Boult said a regulatory system would ideally involve national certification of autonomous vehicles, similar to a fitness order for a car.
He said the minister had recognized the letter and previously “understood the issue and supported doing something about it.”
Conservation Department Director of Heritage and Visitors Steve Taylor said the DOC maintains hundreds of free or reasonably priced campsites throughout New Zealand.
He said that while most of the campers were responsible, some caused problems such as leaving human waste and garbage, lighting fires and damaging vegetation.
He said the DOC restricted or prohibited camping in trouble spots.
“When camping is restricted or prohibited, or violations are committed, the department can issue instant fines of $ 200 for people who do not comply.”
There are over 200 sites listed on the DOC’s website where camping is prohibited or restricted.
