Instead of designating sites for freedom camping, they say the council should exclude freedom camping from specific areas, as has been done successfully in high-tourism areas of the South Island.
Mr Carter said in the past the council had encouraged visitors to stay at the district's camping grounds wherever possible. There had also been public concern about freedom camping's adverse environmental effects.
"We accept that our previous provision of sites meant some areas of the district had no approved locations for freedom camping. Four sites for a district of our size were simply not enough."
Tourism was an increasingly important part of the Far North economy and Mr Carter said the council needed to ensure its policies were visitor-friendly.
"People who have good experiences and leave with a favourable impression of the Far North are more likely to come back. Creating more freedom camping opportunities will help this happen. Freedom camping is becoming more popular worldwide and we need to provide facilities that our visitors need."
The review sought public feedback on a list of 16 possible sites identified by the district's three community boards. The boards used criteria such as ease of access, proximity to campgrounds, ground conditions, availability of water and proximity of public toilets to create the list.
The eight approved sites are the old dump site at Totara North; the car park behind the Hundertwasser toilets, Kawakawa; Centre Park, Kaitaia; Awanui Reserve; Mangonui Lions Park; Lindvart Park, Kaikohe; Te Corner, Ohaeawai; and Two Ponga Park, Okaihau.
Mr Carter said the sites would be ready for summer use once signage was installed, which was expected to happen in early December. They would be for self-contained camper vans only. People in vehicles without toilets and holding tanks should stay at campgrounds instead.
The Paihia and Districts Residents and Ratepayers Association was among those submitting against the plan.
Dusty Miller, of Paihia's Beachside Holiday Park, said the council's policy of designating freedom camping sites was not legally enforceable.
What the council should do instead was exclude freedom camping from commercially sensitive areas - for example, in the Bay of Islands between Lemon's Hill and Puketona Junction - so people who broke the rules could be fined or moved on.
Under the current rules freedom campers could be fined only for littering if they were caught leaving rubbish or bodily waste.
Up to five campervans, most without toilets, stayed every night at Te Haumi Beach, less than 1km from his holiday park. There was nothing in the law or the council's new policy to stop that, Mr Miller said.
- The four sites where the council previously allowed freedom camping have now been closed. They are Derrick Landing, on Waikare Road, Kawakawa; Lake Waiparera, near Awanui; Kaimaumau Recreation Reserve, Kaimaumau; and Unahi Reserve, near Awanui.
