Photographer Ian Bray (56) said in an email to the Otago Daily Times he had been a regular visitor to the South Island for many years, spending six months at a time here.
"In effect, [I have] lived here for over two years living in campervans.
"Every third or fourth day I’ll spend a night at a campground, recharging batteries, going online, catching up with washing clothes, going through photos."
Last week he was staying at Lake Hayes and was unaware the council had introduced freedom clamping to the area. He said none of the other campers at the site was informed.
A year ago, the council began applying clamps to vehicles found to be freedom camping illegally in certain areas. Offenders have to pay a $200 infringement fine as well as $200 to have the clamp removed.
Under the council’s policy, visitors can spend the night in certified self-contained vehicles with their own toilet and water supply in areas where freedom camping is permitted — for example, at Lake Hayes.
However, those camping overnight in vehicles without their own facilities, or in self-contained vehicles in areas where freedom camping is not permitted, will be fined and, in some areas, clamped.
Signs warning of the freedom clamping policy were erected at the northern entrance to the Lake Hayes reserve last week but Mr Bray and others already camped there were not made aware of that, he said.
"I had been at the site for two nights (a site which, incidentally, has a public water supply and two public toilets) when the council came and put up the sign at the entrance," his email said.
Mr Bray said a German couple staying there with their young child visited every campervan to warn the occupants they might find themselves clamped.
When asked, he said he was not in a certified self-contained vehicle at the time, "never have been and never needed to be".
"I manage not to soil the countryside through the day, and I can do that just as well through the night," he said.
"I believe, like terrorism, you are attacking the wrong people en masse and the real culprits will not be caught."
Queenstown Lakes District Council communications manager Michele Poole said that regardless of any new signs at Lake Hayes, Mr Bray was breaching the district’s bylaw "no matter where he was [freedom] camping" because he was not in a certified self-contained vehicle.
"There was no specific notification to campers already at Lake Hayes when the signs were installed before Christmas because those in compliant vehicles were not at risk of being clamped. The signs did not apply to them.
"Freedom campers in certified self-contained vehicles are welcome in this district and have hundreds of choices of places to park up overnight, including Lake Hayes."
Ms Poole said contractors were patrolling every morning and had noticed an increase in freedom campers at Lake Hayes but "almost all" were fully compliant and as such "welcome to be there".
"Only one vehicle has been clamped there since the signs were put up and that occurred [yesterday] morning."
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Comments
Sign looks quite prominent and specific. He acknowledges he knew the council had put it up
Shame he didnt read it.
Things change over time and its your own responsibility to be aware.
As a freeloader Im sure he must be aware of the attitude towards them that seems to be sweeping the country.
Totally agree with GH.
They are Free Campers not freedom campers.
Good on you QLDC.
You set a high standard for other councils to follow.
If Councils all spent 2 days looking at other Councils around New Zealand they would see freedom camping does not help the economy (Councils to look at Christchurch, Wellington or Petone Masterton Queenstown Wanaka etc...) , it actually in 99% of cases costs the Tax payer money. I think this is a great idea. If the Scottish tourist found it to be like "terrorism", why is he here? Unfortunately common sense is not so common these days, so if the math was done on accommodating freeloaders he would see it does not stack up, it is pretty self explanatory. Buy land freeloaders free load sorry may buy some noodles from shop, loss of money on buying land etc.
That's funny, because I've actually done consulting work for the camping industry in NZ, and our analysis (and work from the MBIE and the DIA) conclude that most freedom campers are a net benefit to the local economy. They may not be as high revenue as other types of visitors, but most do spend more than they cost to facilitate. Additionally, a majority of people who freedom camp, freedom camp a minority of the time. They on average spend 70% or more of their nights in paid locations.
I'll say that, yes, some freedom campers do mooch. However, it is not the majority and most certainly far from 99%.
You digging your garden doesn't help the economy. Should they clamp down on that too?