Whangārei should be banning all freedom camping vehicles that aren't self-contained, a local residents' group leader says.
Jan Boyes', Whangārei Heads Citizens Association chairwoman's comments come after new Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said he wanted these vehicles banned from New Zealand.
Nash would not comment specifically on Whangārei District Council (WDC)'s current Camping in Public Places Bylaw review
But he has strongly signalled his intentions around freedom camping vehicles without working onboard toilets.
"I have asked my tourism officials to explore what's possible about tighter regulations for camping vehicles that are not equipped to deal with their own waste," Nash said.
"I certainly want tighter controls on this industry. I want to know what's possible and how we can ensure our long-suffering ratepayers and residents in the most idyllic parts of the country aren't left cleaning up human waste," he said.
Four weeks' public consultation on the bylaw review close on Friday at 2pm. At edition time WDC had received 93 bylaw review submissions. The council will also be holding a December 8 hearing for those who want to talk to their submission.
There has been a huge 160 per cent increase in freedom campers into the district in the last five years. Thirteen thousand freedom camping vehicles visited Whangārei last summer – up from 5000 in 2017/2018.
Boyes said WDC should be moving towards banning non self-contained freedom campers.
"The time has long gone for these to be part of our Whangārei tourism mix. A ban on non self-contained vehicles should gradually be brought in," Boyes said.
Whangārei's huge freedom camping increase has forced an early first-time bylaw review to deal with what WDC councillors have been told will be a polarising issue about which hard decisions will need to be made.
"We don't want any liberalisation anywhere of what we already have now. In fact lots of places need further restrictions," Boyes said of her association's review submission, based on surveying 150 Whangārei Heads locals.