Tasman campgrounds insist offensive campervan slogans be hidden

Campgrounds owned by the Tasman District Council are asking those with campervans displaying offensive slogans to cover them before entering to camp.

In April, the Council’s Corporate Services Committee asked staff to report back on options for banning Wicked campervans from Council-owned campgrounds in response to growing public concern at the company’s slogans.

At its meeting on Thursday 5 May, the committee heard that all four Council-owned campgrounds were already self-policing a ban on offensive slogans, requiring any van displaying lewd or sexist signage to cover it up.

The Council owns campgrounds in Motueka, Pohara, Murchison and Collingwood, three of which are leased to private operators.

Committee chairman Tim King said it seemed the Council did not need to take formal action against Wicked vans.

“Our campground operators have taken a stand by insisting distasteful slogans are covered so other campers are not offended.

“The legal advice we’ve been given suggests it would be difficult to enforce a ban against a single campervan company, and we would need to change the lease agreements we have with our private operators to enforce a ban. That’s unnecessary, since they are refusing to admit vans with offensive signage already.

“What we will do is take a look at the rules about advertising and signage in the District, and whether we need to consider some changes to cover offensive advertising.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media