Oakura campground's future secured

The Whangaruru Motor Camp at Oakura will continue to operate as a campground. Photo / Supplied

Idyllic Kiwi summer camping holidays are unlikely to be overshadowed by high-rise waterfront developments at Oakura after a couple bought the beach settlement's campground.

Paula and Craig Stokes last month took title to Whangaruru Motor Camp on 59.7ha overlooking Parutahi Beach. Mrs Stokes said they intended to keep the property operating as a campground.

Consent had been granted for subdivision of the land and three property developers were interested in it, but Mrs Stokes said too many campgrounds around the North had been sold for house sites.

"This is a traditional Kiwi summer holiday campground. People who started coming here 30 years ago now bring their grandchildren. I would like to have something drawn up legally to retain the site as a campground," she said.

Mrs Stokes said running the campground would be fun for her and her trucking company director husband. They were not reliant on its income and could treat it as a hobby.

"We fell in love with it and want others to enjoy it too," she added. The campground has four motel units, five cabins, 42 powered caravan and tent sites and 40 unpowered tent sites.

It also has an administration building and site manager's accommodation.

A 2009 Whangarei District Council valuation of the campground site rates it at $8.31 million. But Bayleys Whangarei real estate agent Ross Blomfield, who handled the sale, said the finance company involved in the mortgagee tender process had its own valuation done which was "considerably less" than the council assessment.

The camp sold for $2.2 million. A Government report compiled by the Department of Conservation identified that increasing land values in coastal areas have resulted in a number of commercial holiday parks and camping grounds being sold over the past decade, and the sites being developed for other uses.

The document - Review of Camping Opportunities in New Zealand - said that since 1996 there had been a 6 per cent reduction in the number of camping areas available - particularly affecting prime waterfront locations such as Whangaruru Motor Camp.