Ban freedom camping in Golden Bay says community board

Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Vehicles were packed into the Waitapu Bridge freedom camping site in early January, sparking concern about health and safety at the site as well as the environmental effects.

The Golden Bay Community Board has called for a ban on freedom camping across almost all of the district.

Board chairwoman Abbie Langford described the move as drawing a line in sand over the contentious issue of freedom camping, which is a popular practice for many visitors to the Bay.

The ban being sought by the board would apply to all of Golden Bay, expect for the Motupipi car park site in Takaka, which would remain available for 'truly' self-contained vehicles, she said.

In addition to voting for the ban, board members at their meeting this week agreed to request that a review of the Tasman District Council Freedom Camping Bylaw 'be brought forward urgently, due to the negative social and environmental impact [of freedom camping] on Golden Bay', Langford said.

Her comments come after concern was raised by members of the Golden Bay community including iwi about the popular designated freedom camping site at Waitapu Bridge.

People queue to use a toilet at the Waitapu Bridge site on the morning of January 7.

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People washing dishes in the river at the Waitapu Bridge site in January.

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A letter from Manawhenua ki Mohua about the Waitapu Bridge site was included in the documentation for the community board meeting. Manawhenua ki Mohua is an iwi-mandated organisation representing Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Rārua in Golden Bay.

The letter says Waitapu is 'wāhi tapu – a sacred place for Manawhenua ki Mohua'.

'Waitapu is culturally significant as both wai (water) and whenua (land) sustained tūpuna (ancestors) traditions and practices for generations. Therefore, protecting the integrity of Waitapu is paramount.'

Travellers love it but locals aren't quite so enamoured by the freedom camping site at Waitapu Bridge in Golden Bay. This video was first published in January 2019.

Manawhenua ki Mohua passed a motion to support the community board in requesting an amendment to the bylaw to prohibit freedom camping at Waitapu Bridge 'due to the immense cultural significance of this area'.

Langford said she believed the community board had been 'remiss' in allowing the Waitapu Bridge site to be used for freedom camping because of its cultural significance.

'I'm very apologetic we allowed that,' Langford said.

Meanwhile, the Tasman District Council is on Thursday due to consider a staff proposal to limit the numbers at the Waitapu Bridge site to 50 vehicles and tents collectively per night.

A staff report for the council meeting says there was 'very high demand' for some of the district's freedom camping sites during the peak holiday season, Waitapu Bridge in particular. It was estimated there were 150 vehicles on one night at the Waitapu Bridge site and council officers have accepted the 'extreme visitor numbers' at times were neither desirable nor sustainable.

'The alternative of completely closing the site to all but self-contained vehicles … does not, on the face of the information before council officers at this stage, seem to be a measured and proportionate response to the current problems,' the report says.

Recommendations from a hearing panel on a draft Responsible Camping Strategy are due to go before the council in late March. It is expected a review of the bylaw will follow the finalisation of that strategy.