Watch out if you are freedom camping in the South Island this holiday season
There is no doubt that tourism is a big earner for New Zealand. Most Kiwis generally are welcoming towards anyone who wants to experience the scenic beauty of this country. But with summer in full swing and the holiday season fast approaching, the thorny issue of freedom camping is making headlines again, and more so in the South Island, which gets the most number of international tourists. However, the infrastructure is not at par in some places. This has led to issues of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and complaints from residents living near the designated freedom camping areas. The majority of complaints are related to campers not using proper toilets, not disposing of wastewater and rubbish properly, and preventing others from accessing popular recreation areas.
Christchurch
The Christchurch City Council has recently amended Freedom Camping Bylaw, which from this month has banned “all non-self-contained freedom camping throughout the district, including Banks Peninsula, but allows certified self-contained freedom camping without a time restriction in rural zones.”
Informing that was the Council’s Head of Regulatory Compliance, Tracey Weston, who added, “Certified self-contained vehicles are those equipped with on-board wastewater facilities and approved by the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. If freedom campers are found to be breaking the rules, our staff can choose to issue an infringement fine of $200 under the Freedom Camping Act.”
The Council assured that the new rules relate to camping specifically and not to short-term parking, which means people can park temporarily to eat their lunch, go on day trips, or rest between long stints of driving. The City Council will do a full review of the Freedom Camping Bylaw next year.
Nelson
In Nelson, too—a city that sees more than 1,000 freedom campers every summer—the City Council is preparing a $80,000 plan to establish freedom camping zones in close proximity to the city. These zones will have free Wi-Fi, portaloos, and alcohol-friendly areas. The proposal is to encourage freedom campers away from the City's CBD.
Punakaiki
Meanwhile, in West Coast's Punakaiki, a majority of ratepayers (105 of the town's 110 ratepayers) have signed a petition to ban freedom camping in the area. However, for now, the Buller District Council, which looks after the town, has not considered a ban, with Mayor Garry Howard preferring to wait for the ongoing Department of Internal Affairs review of freedom camping in the country. The review, being undertaken with inputs from 40 councils throughout New Zealand, will be completed soon.
Queenstown
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has also issued an advisory to all freedom campers this holiday season. It reads, “Stay a maximum of two nights, leave the area free of litter, do not light fires, dispose waste in designated areas, and always be away from town centres and residential areas within the district.” This came after the Council began applying clamps to illegal freedom camper's vehicles last year.
Waitaki
Finally, following a Waitaki District Council Bylaw banning freedom camping that came into effect on October 21, a total of 73 infringement notices have been issued to freedom campers till date, of which 20 were later withdrawn. As freedom camping is prohibited at 79 named reserves across the Waitaki district, the notices were issued from Moeraki to Oamaru, mainly near the East Coast of the South Island.
There is no doubt that tourism is a big earner for New Zealand. Most Kiwis generally are welcoming towards anyone who wants to experience the scenic beauty of this country. But with summer in full swing and the holiday season fast approaching, the thorny issue of freedom camping is making headlines...
There is no doubt that tourism is a big earner for New Zealand. Most Kiwis generally are welcoming towards anyone who wants to experience the scenic beauty of this country. But with summer in full swing and the holiday season fast approaching, the thorny issue of freedom camping is making headlines again, and more so in the South Island, which gets the most number of international tourists. However, the infrastructure is not at par in some places. This has led to issues of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and complaints from residents living near the designated freedom camping areas. The majority of complaints are related to campers not using proper toilets, not disposing of wastewater and rubbish properly, and preventing others from accessing popular recreation areas.
Christchurch
The Christchurch City Council has recently amended Freedom Camping Bylaw, which from this month has banned “all non-self-contained freedom camping throughout the district, including Banks Peninsula, but allows certified self-contained freedom camping without a time restriction in rural zones.”
Informing that was the Council’s Head of Regulatory Compliance, Tracey Weston, who added, “Certified self-contained vehicles are those equipped with on-board wastewater facilities and approved by the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. If freedom campers are found to be breaking the rules, our staff can choose to issue an infringement fine of $200 under the Freedom Camping Act.”
The Council assured that the new rules relate to camping specifically and not to short-term parking, which means people can park temporarily to eat their lunch, go on day trips, or rest between long stints of driving. The City Council will do a full review of the Freedom Camping Bylaw next year.
Nelson
In Nelson, too—a city that sees more than 1,000 freedom campers every summer—the City Council is preparing a $80,000 plan to establish freedom camping zones in close proximity to the city. These zones will have free Wi-Fi, portaloos, and alcohol-friendly areas. The proposal is to encourage freedom campers away from the City's CBD.
Punakaiki
Meanwhile, in West Coast's Punakaiki, a majority of ratepayers (105 of the town's 110 ratepayers) have signed a petition to ban freedom camping in the area. However, for now, the Buller District Council, which looks after the town, has not considered a ban, with Mayor Garry Howard preferring to wait for the ongoing Department of Internal Affairs review of freedom camping in the country. The review, being undertaken with inputs from 40 councils throughout New Zealand, will be completed soon.
Queenstown
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has also issued an advisory to all freedom campers this holiday season. It reads, “Stay a maximum of two nights, leave the area free of litter, do not light fires, dispose waste in designated areas, and always be away from town centres and residential areas within the district.” This came after the Council began applying clamps to illegal freedom camper's vehicles last year.
Waitaki
Finally, following a Waitaki District Council Bylaw banning freedom camping that came into effect on October 21, a total of 73 infringement notices have been issued to freedom campers till date, of which 20 were later withdrawn. As freedom camping is prohibited at 79 named reserves across the Waitaki district, the notices were issued from Moeraki to Oamaru, mainly near the East Coast of the South Island.
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