LUCY CRAYMER Just metres away from a river alive with trout is the Waipukurau Holiday Park, a quiet retreat and the perfect spot for a holiday.
In prime position in the park is a green-and-white caravan with a permanent sunroom and a matching green veranda. There are a few plants on
the veranda, a well-used barbecue stands outside, awaiting daylight saving, and Murray Nichols is taking an afternoon nap on his couch inside.
For Mr Nichols, the caravan and permanent awning have been his home for the past four years and he will be quite happy to stay for another four.
The sickness beneficiary said he opted to move into a campground because it was the cheapest accommodation available.
"I'm on a budget and I wanted to be as little drain on the ratepayer as possible. I only pay $70 a week here. There are no rates, though I suppose you pay them through the rent."
The closeness to Waipukurau's town centre means Mr Nichols does not need to run a car because he can walk to the shops to do his shopping.
His caravan has all the necessities, including its own kitchen. He says he has the best spot in the park, which is just across a service lane from the toilet and shower block and only metres, and a fence, away from the river, because of the time he has been at the campground.
The caravan is his own. He bought it from a man who worked at the council with him. The permanent awning was built last year and has doubled the van's living space.
The woman of the van is Angel Girl, a budgie that twitters happily in the corner and has a special hook on the veranda so she can spend a little time outside.
The man in the campervan next to Mr Nichols' was in hospital. Mr Nichols said he looked after his van while he was away and kept an eye on things for him.
Life at the Waipukurau Holiday Park is a chance to live in a great spot for very little and is the place Mr Nichols calls home.
