A woman in the South Island is calling for a ban on freedom camping by international visitors once COVID-19 travel restrictions eventually lift.
The anti-freedom camping petition organiser says now is the time to make changes to an industry that's caused headaches for local authorities up and down the country.
Motueka resident Jen Branje wants the ban to stop tourists arriving in New Zealand from hitting the road in a self-contained van.
"We've launched a petition asking the Government to stop international freedom camping," Branje says.
"We've got a chance to reset here and we need high value, not high volume."
The West Coast is a popular destination for freedom campers, and locals there have some concerns.
"The freedom campers aren't spending anything in our district. When they are here, they are sitting in their vans eating noodles, or passing through or just getting petrol," Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson says.
But one industry expert told Newshub he believes a ban on freedom camping in this current climate is short-sighted, and that when international travel restrictions are finally lifted it will be young, adventurous freedom campers who will be the first return and help kick start our tourism industry.
Queenstown is another region plagued by freedom campers and the mess they left behind.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult and his council wants to fix the problem by having designated freedom camping sites and service hubs in Frankton and Wanaka.
"We are open to responsible campers in fully self-contained vehicles. They have been in the past and always will be very welcome in our district," Boult says.
