Number of freedom camping fines falls 99% in Nelson
Nelson City Council only handed out one freedom camping ticket in a year, helping drive a 12% drop in revenue from fines.
The council’s draft annual report shows that in the 2022-23 financial year the council recorded $868,000 in revenue from infringements and fines. But, in 2023-24 that figure fell to $763,000.
It comes as the number of fines for breaching freedom camping rules being handed out fell 99% – from 146 in 2022-23 to just one in the past year.
Breaching freedom camping rules can lead to a $200 fine.
Meanwhile, the number of parking fines being handed out also fell 32%, from 18,305 to 12,494.
Council’s group manager environmental management Mandy Bishop said the drop in freedom camping fines reflected a change in approach after central government funding ended.
In 2022-23 the council had received $102,110 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment as part of the Freedom Camping Transition Fund, which was put towards proactive patrols.
“In the evening officers would use their patrol to locate freedom campers and let any that were not in an area designated for self-contained vehicles know where they could legally stay overnight,” Bishop said.
“Fines would be issued during morning patrols where officers had clear evidence that vehicles had overstayed in areas not set aside for freedom camping.”
But, when the funding was discontinued the council switched to a reactive model, she said.
“As a result, council has only been able to respond to complaints about issues sometimes associated with freedom camping, such as littering, lighting fires and anti-social behaviour as they have been received.”
It also coincided with changes to the law, which meant the freedom camping rules no longer applied to people living in their vehicles, she said.
“Freedom campers move quite quickly through our area as they make their way over to Golden Bay and are less likely to be the subject of a complaint.”
When officers did respond to complaints they often chose to take an educational approach, she said.
“We have also had fewer service requests this year regarding freedom camping than previously.
“We recognise that freedom camping can be something people feel strongly about. Our proposed new Freedom Camping Bylaw will seek to address some of these issues.“
The drop in parking tickets being issued was due to staff vacancies earlier in the year, she said.
“These roles have now been filled and the team is back to full strength.”
By Katie Townshend, Nelson Mail
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