Northland campground enforces $20 visitor fee, family upset

Northland's Tauranga Bay. The local camping ground charges $20 for visitors. Photo / Amy Whyte

A family’s annual sojourn to their favourite Northland campground soured when a relative was asked to pay a $20 fee for a brief visit.

The relative, who did not want to be named, arrived at Tauranga Bay Holiday Park about 5pm one evening to drop her child off for an overnight stay. The woman said she only intended to remain on site for less than an hour while her child settled in.

She believed being asked to pay the fee within 30 minutes was unreasonable in the circumstances.

Tauranga Bay Holiday Park is co-owned by former All Black Eric Rush and his wife Raina but not managed by them.

Raina told the Northern Advocate the park’s visitor fee policy was stated on booking confirmation letters and park entrance and office gate signs.

She said the park has in the past been “used and abused”.

The visitor said payment for her son’s overnight stay was included in the family’s campsite fee and is not in dispute.

There was a ‘No Visitors’ sign at the entrance, which the woman understood to mean no visitor parking onsite.

She parked elsewhere. She did not see any other signage about visitors. Neither is it mentioned on the park’s website.

The woman said she had no intention of using the campground facilities and had satoutside her relatives’ campervan the whole time while she was there.

She said within half an hour, one of the park’s managers phoned her relatives and insisted she pay $20 or leave.

As a solo mum, $20 was a lot of money so she left, the woman said.

Even so, the manager approached the family again the next day for the $20.

Her relative refused to pay but expected the fee would be added to his site rental cost, the woman said.

Tauranga Bay, Northland. Photo / Amy Whyte

Raina said the fee was to cover visitors’ use of the camp facilities such as toilets, showers, water etc.

“I can assure you there are many [people] who take full advantage of all, although they are ‘only visiting’.”

Raina said the fee was $20 - the standard adult camp rate - as non-paying visitors frequently stayed.

“This puts a strain on all the facilities, not just the wear and tear of the cabin.”

Raina said “many paying campers“ agreed with the visitor policy.

“The camp feels much safer without ‘random’ people wandering throughout.”

Holiday Parks New Zealand chief executive Emily Byrne said there was no national rule or guideline for visitor fees.

Each property had its own fees and policies, which had to be clearly stated.

Byrne pointed to safety issues and the need for park staff to know who was on the premises - a task made more challenging during peak periods.

“As an industry, we are committed to a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. All parks must adhere to the Camping-Grounds Regulations 1985.

“Their licence under that legislation requires them to account for all persons occupying each campsite,” she said.

“Parks must also meet certain requirements regarding the ratio of people to ablution and sanitary fixtures,” Byrne said.

Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting on the East Coast. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference, particularly environmental issues.