Reaction to community board's call for freedom camping ban in Golden Bay mixed

Friday, 14 February 2020

Scenes in January at the Waitapu Bridge freedom camping site in Golden Bay.

A recent call to ban freedom camping in Golden Bay's most popular designated spots has stirred up a mixed reaction from locals and travellers.

While some might be relieved to put a halt on freedom camping in the holiday destination, which is inundated by travellers over summer months, others are worried it could damage tourism.

The Golden Bay Community Board this week made a bold move and called to ban freedom camping in all of Golden Bay, except for the Motupipi car park site in Takaka township.

Board chairwoman Abbie Langford described it as 'drawing a line in sand' over the contentious issue.

German freedom campers Nina Krampe, left, and Joran Ebeloe underneath the Waitapu Bridge in Golden Bay.

* Freedom campers moved on from Golden Bay river site

* Homeless 'gypsies' protest their right to camp permanently in Golden Bay**

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.

But it's not just travellers. For years, groups of people who don't have permanent homes have caused a stir in the community for setting up campsites along the Takaka River, including Waitapu Bridge, to stay long-term.

Wholemeal Cafe in Takaka owner Wayne Green says banning all freedom camping in Golden Bay is 'shooting yourself in the foot'.

Resident Jeff Riorden supports the ban.

'As a long-term local, I think it's a real shame what's happening - the places we used to go for picnics are getting overtaken by freedom campers, and you hear what's left behind and it's not good for the environment.

'I actually don't believe they bring a lot of value to the community, or money.'

However, not all locals are enamoured with the idea of a ban.

Kath Craw, left, and Gay Hamilton own local store Choco Loco. Hamilton says the decision to ban freedom campers is a bad one.

Cafe owner Wayne Green called it 'shooting yourself in the foot'.

'You might be looking at 600 [freedom campers] living day to day [in Golden Bay], they are all buying stuff from the supermarket, shops in town, cafes … that's a lot of money.'

He said the foreigners were 'made out to be broke' but they are just trying to stretch their money.

'If they stop [freedom camping] it would make a lot of people happy, but for us relying on tourists, it could be significant.'

Green said the community should 'make something positive' out of freedom camping.

Choco Loco co-owner Gay Hamilton said she was 'horrified' and 'disappointed' by the call to ban freedom camping.

'They're getting rid of all tourists, even the older tourists in the big campervans, or families, travelling in the shoulder seasons,' she said.

Rubbish found by a Golden Bay resident Cynthia McConville at Waitapu Bridge.

'Certainly the vast majority of people who are travelling spend money. I know they do - because I see them. It's not a good decision, I hope they have discussed it with businesses, who are trying to promote Golden Bay.'

But Chairwoman Abbie Langford said the board didn't want to take business away from the community, and said some had misunderstood the rationale behind the ban.

'We are wanting to ban it from spots that are environmentally and culturally important, not completely,' she said.

'We want to protect our really important local spots … we need a paddock somewhere [for freedom camping], and there's plenty of car parks they can go.'

Cynthia McConville of Forest and Bird has called for a ban along all rivers, streams and coastlines, due to the micro-litter and its impact on the marine environment.

On recent walks around the Waitapu Bridge site, she said she had picked up clothing, a 10 litre oil can, cigarette butts, bottle tops, plastic straws, foil food wrappers, packaging, receipts, tape, string and velcro.

'You can see the plastic in the mud of the Waitapu estuary,' she said.

Lia Zimmerman, a 19 year-old freedom camper from Germany, said she might not be able to afford to come to Golden Bay if she had to stay in holiday parks.

'We have a pretty low budget,' she said from her campsite at Waitapu Bridge on Friday.

'The free camping spots are such a good opportunity for people on a cheap budget to see beautiful places.. it's very unfortunate if they just completely [ban it].

'We had some campers [this morning] who left a little bit of rubbish, but as campers, as a community, a guy came over and asked us if [the rubbish] is ours, and then he took it away. So I think there's a balance … as a [freedom camping] community, overall, I think they are respectful.'

Sarah Hyams, a freedom camper from the UK, said people came specifically to Golden Bay because they can stay at beautiful spots.

'We would probably still come [to Golden Bay] because it's so beautiful, and find a way to afford it … you have sort of missed out if you don't come here.'