The most up-to-date and relevant information about New Zealand's rental campervan market remains an assessment, commissioned by a group of rental operators in January, which covers the 12 months to June 2009.
The Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand (TIANZ) is the latest national body to file a study into the campervan rental industry in the too-hard basket, after the National Conservation Authority first passed on the issue in April.
A call in January from Otago Conservation Board member Andrew Penniket, of Wanaka, for campervans to be banned prompted a resolution for the messy issue of freedom camping to be investigated by the National Conservation Authority.
The board wanted an investigation of New Zealand's freedom camping industry as part of a move towards a national strategy to address the issue of campervan travellers.
A cost-benefit analysis of the rental campervan industry would help determine the extent of problems, such as litter and human waste being left behind, the board said.
The issue was subsequently passed over by the National Conservation Authority, with chairman Don Ross saying such an investigation was outside the scope of the authority.
He recommended the study be done by TIANZ.
However, TIANZ advocacy manager Geoff Ensor said the cost-benefit analysis investigation had not been undertaken because the organisation was "not resourced to do such a study".
TIANZ was concentrating on working with stakeholders - communities, local authorities and councils, the Department of Conservation and the rental campervan industry - to improve education for campervan travellers, Mr Ensor said.
A roadshow, run by TIANZ body the Freedom Camping Forum, has travelled around the South Island to push the message about what communities expect from campervan travellers and how they are required to use designated camping areas.
TIANZ had discussed the freedom camping issue with the Otago Conservation Board and outlined its steps towards addressing issues related to campervan travellers, rather than proceeding with its investigation request.
Mr Langsbury said the "strong position" and proactive steps being taken by TIANZ went "some way" towards addressing the concerns of the board.
A study into the rental campervan market commissioned by industry players and presented to the Freedom Camping Forum earlier this year focused on an assessment estimating the size of the New Zealand market.
United Campervans CEO Kay Howe, of Auckland, said the study was commissioned by a group of rental campervan companies which together held a 60% share of the New Zealand market.
