Kaikoura District Council operations senior manager Dave Clibbery says the council is moving from education to enforcement of freedom camping rules.
‘‘Our message is, if you come to Kaikoura, these are our rules and this is what you need to comply with,’’ he said.
‘‘We are finding too many vehicles are coming here and camping, and are non-compliant.’’
Freedom camping vehicles are required to be self-contained, with a toilet on board.
Under the council’s responsible camping bylaw, passed in 2019, the toilet must be available for use when the bed is made up.
Most freedom campers stayed just one night in Kaikoura before moving on, Mr Clibbery said.
Non-compliant vehicles took up space from freedom campers who were following the rules, he said.
Over the last few summers, the council employed freedom camping ambassadors with a focus on education, rather than enforcement.
But this had not been effective in achieving compliance.
With the existing freedom camping ambassador contracts due to finish this month, the council has called for expressions of interest for an independent contractor to undertake enforcement.
Cr Tony Blunt suggested wheel clamping non-compliant vehicles until fines were paid.
‘‘Otherwise they will travel around the country and keep doing it, and then leave the country without paying their fines.’’
By David Hill
Local Democracy reporter
