Crackdown on freeloaders

Thousands of rule-breaking freedom campers are skipping the country without paying fines and the Queenstown Lakes District Council says it is time to get tough.

Statistics released to the Otago Daily Times show almost 70% of $200 fines slapped on freedom campers in the QLDC area since July 2015 went unpaid, costing ratepayers more than $400,000.

Dunedin City Council (DCC) was faring much better and in the last camping season - November 2015 to April - recovered 64% of fines.

It is estimated $1,701,800 in freedom camping fines went unpaid in New Zealand between 2012 and 2015.

QLDC regulatory manager Lee Webster said tourists skipping the country without paying were ''disrespectful'' and the Government should stop them at the border and force them to pay.

However, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), which is investigating freedom camping issues with councils around New Zealand, appears cool on the idea. A spokeswoman said fines were not considered an effective way to tackle the issue.

Mr Webster said the recovery rates were ''frustrating'' and he believed the message on social media was that freedom campers could leave the country without paying.

''I think it's disrespectful to our rules and what our community is trying to do.''

The problem was bad enough he believed fine dodgers should be stopped at the border.

''We need for there to be a change so those monies can be collected easier and so people basically wouldn't be able to leave New Zealand without paying those infringements.

''It's not an easy solution, but it is something we need to look at.''

The council was already making efforts to increase recovery rates, which included working with rental companies by sending them copies of infringement notices within 24 hours, rather than the usual timeframe of up to 28 days.

It was also about to extend wheel clamping for rule-breaking freedom campers to Lake Hayes.

''I think that certainly has a positive message, in that you will need to follow our rules and respect our community, otherwise you are not going to be driving away.''

Despite the issues the council was facing, he was keen to emphasise the ''vast majority'' of freedom campers coming to the QLDC area did obey the rules.

DCC recreation planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson was not sure why recovery rates were higher in Dunedin, but said it could be because the city was in the middle of people's journeys.

Since fines were introduced last year it had issued 591, of which 165 were exempted and 273 paid, totalling $54,600, Ms Paterson said.

She believed the system worked as a deterrent because campers who used popular smartphone apps were informed they could be fined if they broke the rules.

The fines were just one measure aimed at tackling the issue. The council was working harder to communicate with campers through the app providers and was investing in infrastructure.

This included installing clearer signage and high-tech solar-powered bins at Ocean View and Warrington, which self-compacted rubbish and emailed the contractor when they were 80% full.

She believed the measures were making an impact.

A DIA spokeswoman said fines were not considered an ''effective tool'' for reducing harm associated with freedom camping.

''In a successful regime infringements should be issued in low volumes which would be representative of reckless, negligent and deliberate offending,'' the DIA spokeswoman said.

''The vast majority of freedom campers want to do the right thing and the volumes of infringements should reflect that,'' she said.

A working group of council and government representatives said fines could be ''easily avoided'' by international visitors and the challenges this caused would be looked at by the group early this year.

A report by the group said there were risks from adopting a ''punitive approach''.

''There is a risk that this punitive approach to enforcement may lead to a reduction in visitors camping and reputational damage to New Zealand.

''The perception of loss of revenue through non-payment of fines may add to perceptions of lawlessness and freeloading.''

QLDC statistics showed that of 3480 fines issued from July 2015 to November last year, only 948 had been paid.

When taking into account fines cancelled (2) and waived (434) this meant only 31% of fines were recovered by the council.

In the period, 785 prosecutions had been launched, which were managed by the Ministry of Justice.

According to a DIA report, of $3,165,200 in infringements issued across New Zealand, only $1,463,400 had been collected.

This left $1,701,800 in fines outstanding.

Waitaki District Council introduced fines on October 21 and had issued more than 70 by the start of December.

Clutha and Central Otago district councils do not fine freedom campers, but both are revisiting the way they manage the issue this year.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz