New Zealand should be seen by overseas visitors, including freedom campers, as a ‘‘welcoming country’’,Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison says. Mr Morrison also emphasised the need for a collaborative, consistent approach to the provision of freedom camping facilities throughout the country, during a discussion at a community board meeting at Waitati last night,What was needed was combined action by government as well as local authorities and community bodies to ensure adequate facilities were provided, he said. Demand for freedom camping at the Waikouaiti Domain and elsewhere in Dunedin was ‘‘going to get bigger’’. In a brief update tabled at the meeting, Dunedin City Council recreation planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson said council staff would present a report to council next month with proposed changes to the freedom camping bylaw. City council representative Cr Jim O’Malley said the community and council response provided a positive example of how freedom camping issues could be handled.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 01, 2017 17:05 UTC