Spat between Wellington Council and local media, over Lions fans

The paper claimed Lions fans were paying four times the going rate for campervan parks, of about $130 a night. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A spat has broken out between Wellington City Council and a local Fairfax paper, for claims about Lions fans getting ripped off.

The front page of the Dominion Post today claimed Lions fans were paying four times the going rate for campervan parks, of about $130 a night.

It also claimed there were no toilets, showers, or cooking facilities.

But the council has now released a statement calling the story irresponsible journalism that leaves out key facts.

"We are not into gouging campervanners - we want people to come to Wellington to have a good time," the statement said.

"The DomPost should hang its head in shame for running such a sloppy, useless and frankly ill-considered story that's brought Wellington into disrepute."

The council said the real story was that tour companies paid upfront for the sites mentioned in the story, and asked for extra services.

The companies then passed the costs on to their clients as part of the packages.

"We've provided security, toilets, tour hosts and electricity at both sites," the council statement said.

"We're charging $100 a night per camper van to cover our considerable costs and the fact we've taken a load of revenue-generating carparks out of action for the duration.

"The tour companies are charging the extra $30."

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) interim CEO Derek Fry agreed the camper parks were a package deal offered through certain tour companies.

"What it provides is onsite security, a variety of facilities, and the opportunity to be close to the city.

"They're getting 24 hour security, powered sites, facilities such as showers and toilets, and on Cable Street they have a special liquor licence so they can have a drink in their camper van without breaking the rules for Wellington CBD.

"Many others took advantage of free parking in the inner city, or the south coast, for example.

"There are a variety of options, the cost is simply for us to cover our costs, there are no margins for us."

Fry said the price was fair, with similar facilities in Alexandra Park in Auckland charging the same amount.

Those who booked the sites did so a year in advance, and knew what the price was.

Deputy mayor Paul Eagle told Newstalk ZB he wanted to reassure Wellingtonians that the story was not what was originally published.

"I've done some investigation this morning, and found out it was a couple of tour companies who said 'look, we need you to put on something more special'.

"Therefore we put in these special areas, pop up camper grounds you could call them.

"We said, we're happy to do this, but we'll put the $100 fee on the table, do you think that's good?"

Eagle said the council wasn't making a cent out of the deal, and it was much more than just a car park.