Freedom campers rankle Napier residents group chairman

NUISANCE: Richard Karn's daily commute is sullied by the sight of illegal campers and their "rubbish" on Napier's coast.

Richard Karn's daily commute is sullied by the sight of illegal campers on Napier's coast, south of Marine Parade.

"Their bloody rubbish and stuff is hanging out the windows - it's disgusting and unsanitary," he said.

A Napier City Council bylaw states people in non-self-contained vehicles can only camp overnight at a carpark near Ellison St at the end of Marine Parade.

It has unisex toilets and water supply at a total cost of $160,000 to ratepayers, Mr Karn said.

At the current height of the tourist season it filled up and the overflow went to a beach access carpark 2km south, which has no facilities but parking for about 50 vehicles.

"That spillover is becoming a permanent camping ground - it is so unsanitary and their washing hanging out the windows and their pots on the ground.

"It is just disgusting and the Napier City Council appears to be making no effort to stop non-self-contained vehicles using this parking area as a campground."

Council chief executive Wayne Jack said people should contact the council if they see illegal campers, so council officers can move them on.

"We monitor this all the time and people should just contact us so we can send our regulatory people," he said.

"The best way to get information is feedback from the public."

He said he was unaware if anyone had been moved on from the beach access carpark.

Mr Karn, chairman of the Westshore Residents and Development Association, said he had not complained specifically about the beach access carpark, but the council was regularly informed about freedom campers and yet the problem continued.

"We have sent them about 20 photos in the last year and I know at least two other people that have sent them photos."

A 2014 bylaw made freedom camping legal but last year the association succeeded in changing the designation of two Westshore carparks to ban self-contained freedom camping.

Self-contained vehicles are allowed to park anywhere in Napier with the exception of prohibited areas.

Hastings District Council permits only self-contained vehicles in designated areas.

A self-contained vehicle needs to have three days of fresh water on board, storage for wastewater at least the same size of the fresh water capacity, a sink and a toilet with at least 3-litre holding capacity per person.

Mr Karn said the illegal campers should be in backpacker lodges or camping grounds.

Toad Hall Backpackers owner Ruthie Emery said freedom campers were now a lot more visible because of the designated areas.

"It is certainly a practical option for travellers because they are always trying to do everything so cheap," she said.

She said her visitor numbers had increased this summer and was unsure whether freedom camping was on the rise.

"Certainly it is more visible to us because it is Marine Parade," she said.

"I would have thought if Napier was going to give free camping they wouldn't make it our prime real estate."