Should freedom camping be allowed?

9:25 AM Wednesday Jan 6, 2010

Most councils have bylaws that allow camping in designated campsites only. File photo / Dannevirke News

Gisborne District Council says the East Coast region is one of the "last bastions of freedom camping".

Unrestricted camping spots are available on land that holds no title, just metres from the sea on the rugged and sparsely populated coast.

The council does not charge for freedom camping, but asks that campers pay a permit fee which covers the cost of removing waste.

Most other councils permit camping only in designated camping grounds.

What do you think? Is 'parking-up' to camp around New Zealand a quintessential part of a Kiwi summer? Or is it potentially damaging to the public spaces and dangerous for campers themselves?

Gavin (New Zealand) | 10:34AM Wednesday, 06 Jan 2010

It should be, that it is not is our own dumb fault. I grew up freedom camping with my family, back then is was just called camping. Trouble is many of our beaches have become little more than open air rubbish tips. If all of us (residents, campers, fishos and casual visitors) took responsibility for our litter and other waste, only lit fires when there was a low risk of them spreading and controlled our pets, I am certain councils around the country would not have enacted bylaws restricting freedom camping.

stevea (Penrose) | 10:34AM Wednesday, 06 Jan 2010

Excellent idea that we have free sites as long as people respect our environment and take away their rubbish and leave the area clean and tidy so others can enjoy. We should all experience our wonderful outdoors and camping is such a great activity.

Wahine Toa (North Shore) | 10:34AM Wednesday, 06 Jan 2010

I've just been around the East Coast and it seems to be working there, because and only because people mainly respect the "byo toilet" rule; I've observed that in other parts of the country where freedom camping happens (whether it's allowed or not), e.g. Central Otago, this often doesn't happen & the result is a disgusting mess. The culprits though are mainly back-packers who hire those (relatively) cheap camper vans that have no loo; the solution is to somehow require all camper vans to have a toilet facility.