Offroad-Express

DoC intend to gazette the whole Papakanui area at Kaipara South Head (otherwise known as 'the bombing range') at the top of Muriwai Beach as no camping under the Freedom Camping Act-Phase 2. They also plan to use the Act to ban camping around Lake Ototoa in the same region. Tha same will apply to the Tapora area on the other side of the Kaipara Harbour.
This is proposed in documents being considered by the next Auckland Conservation Board meeting.

So Peter how do we put in our objections???
I am sure the fisher folk will have something to say...
Thanks for the heads up...

now i confused,it was my understanding that driving on/in and camping in the bombing range has been banned for years.. I'm not saying people don't do it but i thought all that was at individuals own risk??

but as above,how do we go about putting in our opinion?

You are correct, but as Peter has said they wish to apply it to a wider area.

"They also plan to use the Act to ban camping around Lake Ototoa in the same region. Tha same will apply to the Tapora area on the other side of the Kaipara Harbour."

Europeans living in vans, stuffin rubbish bins full of crap an shitting in bushes while they tour our country have a lot to answer for, as do those who rent out said vans....

The wife and I were staying in a top 10 park down in Franz, we had a stand alone cabin that was slightly larger than my nissan d22, no joke I have photos of it parked out front

On our way back on dusk I wanted to stop by a lake to check on the trout rising, the carpark we pulled into by the river inlet had around 15 to 20vans parked up with most of them cooking tea. NOT 1 with a self contained shitter in sight, mostly toyo estimas? with a matress in the back and sign writing on the side...

Have also been down around Queenstown and seen the poo paper fluttering from bushes on the side of the road in more than 1 spot, havnt looked close enough but can guess whats under said bush

Tarmac wrote:Europeans living in vans, stuffin rubbish bins full of crap an shitting in bushes while they tour our country have a lot to answer for, as do those who rent out said vans....

The wife and I were staying in a top 10 park down in Franz, we had a stand alone cabin that was slightly larger than my nissan d22, no joke I have photos of it parked out front

On our way back on dusk I wanted to stop by a lake to check on the trout rising, the carpark we pulled into by the river inlet had around 15 to 20vans parked up with most of them cooking tea. NOT 1 with a self contained shitter in sight, mostly toyo estimas? with a matress in the back and sign writing on the side...

Have also been down around Queenstown and seen the poo paper fluttering from bushes on the side of the road in more than 1 spot, havnt looked close enough but can guess whats under said bush

Perhaps if DOC and local councils spent less money on gates and fences, and more on providing some basic facilities in these areas and campground fees were a little cheaper.........

MikeL200 wrote:
Perhaps if DOC and local councils spent less money on gates and fences, and more on providing some basic facilities in these areas and campground fees were a little cheaper.........

This is so true. There are enough guys in the local clubs that would be keen to dig some big holes, and a little plywood hut for a long drop. unfortunately DoC doesn't like people helping them. They feel dis-empowered or something.

Im not saying there arnt a few Kiwi grubs out there but man I can see why freedom camping is banned on the continent. Its not like checking into a camping ground will break the bank and those that used to rent these people a van with a matress and a cooker in and call it "self contained" need to be lined up against a wall.

In my limited interaction with DOC I do feel sorry for them, increasing expectations, a shrinking budget and imagine trying to justify the outlay of money and manpower against todays "preformance indicators". If only we could do away with BS jobs like 'health and safety' then there wld be more money available

More to the point what the hell is "Freedom Camping Act-Phase 2"??

Sounds very ominous.

Never heard of that until now, where can i find more info??

Cheers, D.B.

DieselBoy wrote:More to the point what the hell is "Freedom Camping Act-Phase 2"??

Sounds very ominous.

Never heard of that until now, where can i find more info??

Cheers, D.B.

Dont worry bud, they'll never find us at Christmas.... never....

xj wrote:

DieselBoy wrote:More to the point what the hell is "Freedom Camping Act-Phase 2"??

Sounds very ominous.

Never heard of that until now, where can i find more info??

Cheers, D.B.

Dont worry bud, they'll never find us at Christmas.... never....

They might find you... just listen for the banjo playing. Have you ever seen that movie deliverance?

I agree with DB, sounds ominous.

Hi I own a backpackers in Napier recently on one of the industry forums I follow there was a post about a international tourism confrence held in Germany the guts of the post was most countries had really good info and representation from accomodation providers and atraction.But NZ and AUS had a couple of people standing at our displays telling people about these so called freedom camping vans GO FIGURE ...this was most likly indorsed by NZ tourisim GOVT . This style of tourism does more damage to our country than good .Rant over Gareth

Tarmac wrote:Europeans living in vans, stuffin rubbish bins full of crap an shitting in bushes while they tour our country have a lot to answer for, as do those who rent out said vans....

The wife and I were staying in a top 10 park down in Franz, we had a stand alone cabin that was slightly larger than my nissan d22, no joke I have photos of it parked out front

On our way back on dusk I wanted to stop by a lake to check on the trout rising, the carpark we pulled into by the river inlet had around 15 to 20vans parked up with most of them cooking tea. NOT 1 with a self contained shitter in sight, mostly toyo estimas? with a matress in the back and sign writing on the side...

Have also been down around Queenstown and seen the poo paper fluttering from bushes on the side of the road in more than 1 spot, havnt looked close enough but can guess whats under said bush

I've updated the Auckland 4WD Club site http://www.auckland4wd.org.nz/visitors/ ... efault.asp
Included there are two pdf document downloads describing the locations and explaining the application of the Act.