It's a simple message and it's one the Freedom Camping Forum
hopes to get through to travellers loud and clear: if there's no
toilet, don't camp there.
Freedom camping is an area of concern for many New Zealand
communities because of the unwanted waste left behind by some
campers, particularly those using vehicles without built in toilet
and waste-water facilities.
Geoff Ensor, Tourism Industry Association Advocacy Manager,
heads New Zealand's Freedom Camping Forum. He says a new 'Where can
I camp?' message will be at the centre of a fresh awareness
campaign targeting travellers using vans and campervans to
camp.
"In the summer of 2009/10 we had very negative feedback from
media and communities around freedom camping. We had been working
with DOC Visitor Centres, i-SITEs and Holiday Parks to encourage
campers to 'ask a local' about where to camp.
"But it was clear this message wasn't working - locals didn't
always know the right advice to give," says Geoff Ensor.
He says the new message is much clearer, confirming that it is
unacceptable for campers without an on-board toilet to camp
anywhere but designated camping sites or holiday parks.
The 'Where can I camp?' message and a simple check-point system
have been added to the forum's website - www.camping.org.nz. The message will also be
integrated into the booking and key pick-up processes of
participating campervan rental companies estimated to represent
about 80 per cent of the rental vehicle fleet on New Zealand
roads.
Geoff Ensor says several campervan companies have been quick to
come onboard, adding the message and campaign logo to their
websites, and sharing information with staff who have front-line
contact with travellers collecting their vehicles.
One of the issues around freedom camping in New Zealand is that
there are no national guidelines or regulations. Each region has
its own bylaws, which can be confusing for both campers and those
who come into contact with them through the tourism industry.
Andrew Leslie, Manager i-SITE New Zealand, says this means
there is an important role for i-SITE Visitor Centres to play in
spreading the word about responsible camping. He says there is an
expectation that i-SITE staff across the country understand the new
guidelines and are able to assist any freedom campers who aren't
sure of the local rules.
"i-SITEs are a key point of contact for campers as they make
their way around the country and we have a duty of care to make
sure these visitors understand what they should and shouldn't
do.
"We have provided each of our Centres with a checklist to help
them gather the information they need about campsites and bylaws
for their local region, so that this can be shared both with their
counter staff and through our national network."
The Forum is also working to develop a number of other
initiatives that will curb the environmental damage caused by
irresponsible freedom campers. These include a nationally
consistent set of regulations that councils will be able to adopt
and adapt to their own regions.
The New Zealand Freedom Camping Forum (NZFCF) was formed in 2007
by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA). Members
include a number of tourism industry bodies, private companies,
local government and central government agencies, including Tourism
New Zealand