Law change urged

A change in the law was needed to stamp out irresponsible tourism, New Zealand Freedom Camping Forum members unanimously agreed yesterday.

More than 30 groups – including vehicle rental companies and Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago District Council representatives – discussed continuing abuse of beauty spots when the Tourism Industry Association-led forum met in Auckland for a one-day workshop.

Tourism Industry Association advocacy manager Geoff Ensor said it was clear local authorities and other agencies need help to introduce a national enforcement regime. Members agreed to start advocating for a change in the law, Mr Ensor said.

Rental companies, including Wicked Campers and Spaceship, had agreed to stress to customers that freedom camping was not permitted unless a van had on-board toilets, he said.

The forum did not discuss a timeline but messy tourists could be slapped with tickets for freedom camping by summer, he said.

Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park owner Greg Hartshorne's reaction to the forum's unanimous agreement was: "Thank God for that."

A Queenstown Lakes District Council report last year estimated up to 200 tourists freedom camped each night during summer.

Mr Hartshorne said tourists in self-contained campervans should be allowed to holiday off the beaten path.

Irresponsible campers in "smelly vans" were a different story. "The only way to stop it is to fine them. I'm glad they've come up with that."

Holiday Accommodation Parks Association chief executive Fergus Brown said campervan companies had accepted responsibility to inform customers of camping regulations.

"There's no single fix for this, it has to be a local government, central government and industry approach."

Rental Vehicle Association chief executive officer Raewyn Bleakley said about 80 per cent of the commercial campervan fleet on New Zealand roads was represented at the meeting. Members would advise tourists to hire the appropriate vehicle during their stay in New Zealand, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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