Seven enforcement officers have been appointed to police freedom camping in the Waitaki district, but will be adopting a "low-key approach".
"We want to promote the area and encourage visitors, so we will be taking very much a low-key approach, talking to freedom campers, educating them and telling them where approved camping sites are," Waitaki District Council regulatory manager Paul Arnold, said yesterday.
The council at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday appointed the enforcement officers under the provisions of the Freedom of Camping Act, passed in August by Parliament before an influx of visitors for the Rugby World Cup.
The Act provides for instant fines for illegal camping, but Mr Arnold said they would be used in Waitaki only in extreme cases, such as when damage was caused or waste dumped.
The enforcement officers had only just been appointed and, so far, had not had to deal with any illegal camping, he said.
The officers have been given the power to issue infringement notices for offences of:
• Dumping waste while freedom camping.
• Failing or refusing to leave the area when requested.
• Refusing to give information or giving false or misleading information.
• Discharging noxious, dangerous, offensive or objectionable material.
• Impeding, preventing or obstructing an enforcement officer in execution of their duties.
