Issue #1035

by Scott Stevens - Queenstown Media Group

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the tragic events up North, particularly at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, as I prepare to write this editorial on campervan and caravan camping around our beautiful country. Registered and regulated camping grounds are usually safe places for everyone who passes through the gates. Kia Kaha

Ok, let’s talk about freedom campers, not the ones who go seeking real freedom in our backcountry, rather the ones in small vans who start lining up in the carpark at the Events Centre or behind the toilets in Arrowtown early in the day, waiting to snaffle one of the few spots set aside under the Freedom Camping By-law for the great unwashed to freeload in. But why would you want to stay in such an uninspiring spot? That’s my first question.

Why would you bother spending hours waiting, waiting, for a free overnight parking spot when there is life to live, people to meet and a small town (potentially exciting) to explore. The only possible reason, in my opinion, and I do speak with a little bit of experience, is that these are the people who value themselves at less than $100 a day. That’s the average price of a fully equipped powered campervan site at the local campgrounds, providing everything you need to live your best Kiwi holiday experience.

My experience on the subject is that every year we, the family, do a loop of the South Island with our caravan in tow. We book, pay and enjoy every stop along the way. No question about it, less than $100 a night is money well spent for the privilege of passing thorough another New Zealander’s precious township.

Back in Queenstown, it does not sit well with me that we are being taken advantage of by bottom feeders who pass through and contribute nothing. If you think the freeloader in the rusty 1982 Toyota Hiace van parked behind the Fork and Tap is coming into Arrowtown to spend up and contribute positively, you are sorely mistaken.

Now to my second question. When QLDC did all they could to put a local law in place to protect our neighbourhoods and townships, why did the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, of which I am a member, object? They took QLDC to task and forced a rewrite of our local law to allow free camping spots around our district. With knee shaking fear of having my membership revoked, I must ask, why?

The only possible reason, in my opinion, is that the NZMCA has at least one, probably several, self-important meddlers that just have to poke their sticky beaks into other people’s business for no logical reason at all. Not logical because I can almost 100% guarantee you that not one of their 150,000+ members will be lining up in their $150,000+ motorhomes for a QLDC provided free camping spot. A classic example of when “the principle of the matter” trumps the wishes of the people that matter most, you, me and our precious Queenstown Lakes District.