Freedom Camping

Freedom campers in Queenstown are clustering their vehicles together and challenging enforcement officers if they are clamped, the council says.

Moves by the Nelson City Council to accommodate freedom campers have angered some locals, but delighted those who prefer a free-wheeling holiday, reports Tracy Neal.

Anger is brewing in Nelson over a council decision to set aside areas on the city fringe for freedom campers.

Tourists could be made to pay a bed tax or departure tax, Prime Minister John Key says.

The Christchurch City Council has voted to completely ban freedom camping.

Local councils struggling to cope with freedom campers want the government to tax visitors on their way in or out of the country - and to give them a share.

Improving infrastructure and preserving the environment are two of the briefs for a working group set up to investigate the effectiveness of freedom camping bylaws.

Christchurch city councillors have today voted in favour of making permanent a temporary ban on freedom campers without toilets on board their vehicles.

A bewildering array of bylaws on freedom camping makes it almost impossible for tourists to comply, say local council representatives.

Councils across the country are considering taking a tougher line on freedom camping.

A ban on some forms of freedom camping in the Christchurch area will remain in force until the end of next summer.

Extra toilets and car parks will help but more is needed to improve the experience of visitors, tourism leaders say.

Freedom campers heading to Christchurch or Banks Peninsula next summer might have to think again, with a temporary ban extended to May next year.