Fewer freedoms for campers

Freedom campers will have to be extra careful holidaying in the Mackenzie this Christmas, as the council has limited their options.

The Mackenzie District Council passed a bylaw yesterday banning camping near the Lake Ruataniwha reserve between December 24 and the second Monday in January, after which only "self-contained" vehicles – those with toilets – would be exempt.

The council passed a similar bylaw covering the Lake Opuha region last year. There is also a total ban on freedom camping on the foreshore of Lake Tekapo near the Church of the Good Shepherd.

The council passed the latest bylaw unanimously after a request from the Twizel community, which was concerned about the environmental damage caused by people who "freedom camp" outside official camping areas, or camp illegally, in the region.

"I think it is a necessary move," Mackenzie mayor John O'Neill said.

"There are concerns from the community about the mess freedom campers leave, and we can't continue to promote a clean, green image, if we don't do something to address it."

Mr O'Neill said the bylaw would provide better direction for both tourists and residents.

"The bylaw gives the ability to impose a $500 fine on campers but I don't expect that to happen very often.

"I expect the Twizel residents will be able to educate tourists on the rules."

While there were concerns about environmental damage caused by freedom camping, Mr O'Neill said the council also had to acknowledge the benefits tourism brought to the region.

"We have a relatively small population, so we derive a lot of our revenue from tourism. We had to make sure we made a balanced decision."

He said the council had previously asked the Ministry of Tourism for more assistance.

Twizel community board chairman John Bishop said the board wanted the ban on freedom camping at Lake Ruataniwha over the summer because some tourists were "riding up" by the holiday park's fence and camping beside it.

He said the Twizel community was often forced to clean up after them.

The community board received nearly 20 submissions on the proposal. While the majority supported an outright ban on freedom camping, some said it would be better to ban only vehicles that were not self-contained.

Freedom camping has become a national issue. Last month, the New Zealand Tourism Association held a forum on freedom camping in Auckland, while at last weekend's mainland conference in Oamaru, National Party delegates unanimously passed a remit proposing the Government introduce a standard requirement for freedom camping vehicles to be "self-contained", with their own toilets.

- © Fairfax NZ News