NZMCA disputes Mayor’s claims over freedom camping

Westland Mayor Maureen Pugh’s claim that her council had decided not to defend High Court action over its Freedom Camping bylaws on the basis of cost, has been described as ‘disingenuous’.

“The reality is that the Westland District Council has backed down because it knows its bylaw is illegal and indefensible,” says New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) General Manager, Bruce Lochore.

“The Council put itself in the firing line by refusing to accept the advice of its own officers.

“When the Council first issued its draft Freedom Camping policy we recognised there were problems with it and sent an expert with 30 years’ experience in local government policy to meet with their Strategy Committee and talk through the issues they had with it. He came away from that meeting complimentary of the Strategy Committee and confident that they were going to adjust their policies accordingly.

“And they did. The Strategy Committee recommended changes to Council - and we turned our attention away from Westland on that basis.

“However Council rejected the recommendations and knowingly implemented an illegal bylaw – and in doing so put themselves back in the firing line. We had no alternative but to take action as our members were going to incur $200 infringement notices if they breached what is effectively an illegal bylaw. We couldn’t stand by and let that happen.”

Mr Lochore also rejects accusations that the NZMCA had deliberately chosen to take on Westland District Council because it was small and cash-strapped.

“When we initiated the action (in mid-January this year) we had no idea that the mismanagement of this project by the Westland District Council was indicative of their mismanagement of their own affairs.

“It wasn’t until after we had taken the action that we learned they had a $5.1 million blowout for the first six months of the year.”

Mr Lochore said the legal action was very much a ‘last resort’ for his organisation: “Our preference all along has been to work with councils to help them draft Freedom Camping bylaws which enable them to protect the environment, while also protecting the rights of our members to responsibly freedom camp.

“As an organisation we have a strong commitment to the environment – and we have been prepared to put our money where our mouth is. Over the past 10 years we have helped funded the installation of dump stations throughout the country; the Association led the way with the introduction and operation of the Certified Self Containment scheme; and has strongly encouraged all members to upgrade their motor caravans to CSC standard. At present more than 70% of members’ motor caravans meet this standard.”

The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association is a membership-based organisation representing the interests of private motor caravan owners in New Zealand. The Association was created in 1956 and today represents over 48,000 individual members nationwide.

ENDS

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