Waikato District Council is upping the ante on freedom campers, with plans to introduce a new bylaw restricting where they can stay.
It would fall short of a total ban however, as councils are unable to completely outlaw the activity.
Waikato District Councillor Clint Baddeley says certain areas will be targeted, including Manu Bay Reserve at Raglan, Patterson Park in Ngaruawahia and Port Waikato's Maraetai Bay Reserve.
"We've got to deal with it in a way that's more proactive than just saying we don't want them. We've had a lot of concern and public debate about them in our reserves."
In some areas it's proposed freedom camping be banned altogether, and in others, restrictions put in place -- such as how many days they can stay or requiring their vehicle to have self-contained "ablutionary and sanitary" facilities.
Mr Baddeley says it's not about driving campers away altogether, but getting them to clean up their act.
"We have reports of all sorts of problems -- parking in places that are inappropriate, leaving rubbish, all the things that we hear about freedom campers around the country, not using public toilets, not using their own toilet systems within the vans," he says.
"I think the clear message... would be respect our environment, respect our people within our community. We welcome you as visitors and hope you enjoy your stay."
The proposals are open for public consultation until May 27. Submissions can be made through the Waikato District Council website.
Newshub.
