Wairoa District Council welcomes all visitors and reminds freedom campers to please stick to the rules and be respectful and responsible.

Every summer, thousands of freedom campers enjoy holidaying in the beautiful Wairoa district.

Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna said most campers are responsible and respectful with very few freedom camping infringements issued over the past two summers. “We are impressed with the visitors who flock to our district. We have staff monitoring the camping situation, and sometimes, we may need to have an educational chat, and people may have to move on, but generally, people are respectful. As long as campers are compliant, self-aware of others and respectful of our whenua and infrastructure, then we welcome them to enjoy a holiday in our district.”

Freedom camping is national legislation that allows people to camp on public land that isn’t a recognised camping ground or holiday park. Freedom camping is permitted in any local authority area within the district unless it is restricted or prohibited.

There have been nationally driven changes around Freedom Camping. Infringement fees have gone up significantly and now range from $200 for failing to display a warrant card to $800 for causing damage. Camping in the wrong place now carries a $400 fine.

Freedom camping is monitored, particularly over peak times. The last two years of monitoring have been in partnership with Rongomaiwahine Iwi Trust, drawing on Tourism Infrastructure Funding. That funding has now been used, and this year, Council’s compliance team will be on the ground.

Other changes include the Council now registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, which regulates self-contained vehicles making it easier to check the status of a vehicle.

Council has also proactively met with a range of agencies involved with freedom campers to ensure everybody is on the same page and community wise.

Signage has been going up around the district with each camping site having different conditions.

Traditionally, hot spots over the summer break are at Mahia. This year, the Blue Bay site has been slightly restricted in size due to coastal erosion and in a bid to give campers more space.

The messaging remains simple

• Use the toilets available in the area.
• Use local laundry facilities for washing clothes.
• Enjoy local facilities for bathing.
• Dispose of your rubbish at designated areas (i. e. the Wairoa landfill).
• Ensure your black water (sewage) and grey water (shower, sink and hand wash basin water) holding tanks are discharged at designated wastewater dump stations.

For more information, please head to https://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/our-district/freedom-camping/

20 December 2024

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