25 October 2024

Media: Whakaata Maori

Topic: Return of Tarewa Road land to iwi

Enquiry

Interview with an RLC staff member requested on the proposed return of 35 Tarewa Road/Pururu South Reserve that RLC is currently consulting on.

Response

We provided some additional background information and politely declined an interview, suggesting a relevant iwi/hapu representative would be more appropriate. We understand this has been arranged by the reporter.

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Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Freedom camping in Rotorua

Enquiry

Can I please ask how the council enforces freedom camping overstayers?

Is she [woman who spoke to elected members in the public forum part of Wednesday's Council meeting] correct there is a callout fee and the team do not work after 5pm?

Has anyone been moved on in the last year and how many?

I spoke to a few users and they suggested a donation box - is this something the council would consider implementing? Why/why not

Will or should the council "clam-down" as she requested?

She believed the council should also ensure only certified self-contained vehicles stayed. “If council want to make the rules then they should abide by them.” In her view, it should be a user-pays system and there should be no freedom camping spots “in a tourism destination”.

Response

From a Council Spokesperson:

Rotorua Lakes Council allows overnight parking at six council sites (for a maximum of two consecutive nights per calendar month): the designated carpark in Government Gardens area, opposite Polynesian Spa (free); one part of Hamurana Reserve (free); an area at Trout Pool Reserve, Okere Falls (free); part of Boyes Beach, Ōkareka (nightly fees apply); part of Lake Ōkaro Reserve (nightly fees apply); and part of Guy Roe Reserve, Lake Rerewhakaaitu (nightly fees apply). Camping in a tent is allowed only at the Ōkaro and Guy Roe Reserve sites with limited spaces available.

Active enforcement requires considerable resourcing and therefore cost and campers are often gone when we do get there after receiving a complaint relating to freedom camping. If still there, people are spoken to, informed of available holiday parks and camping areas and moved on.

(note to reporter: due to staffing capacity we don’t have the ability to give you these numbers today but we can start a LGOIA for you if you would like)

In regards to callouts, there is a rural callout fee which is charged by the security firm. But inner-city callouts are covered by our Safe City Teams which operate until 10pm with their hours soon to be extended to 2am for the summer period (1 November 2024 to 31 March 2025).

Number of spots at each site and camping fees:

Hamurana – 10 – self contained

Truot pool – 5 – self contained

Govt. Gardens – 17 – self contained

Boyes – open (est 20 parks) – self and non-self-contained - $20 per adult per night $10 per child under 5’s are free

Ōkaro – open (est 10parks) – self and non-self-contained - $8 adult, $4 child under 5 free

Guy roe – open est 30 parks) - self and non-self-contained - $8 adult, $4 child under 5 free

There is less-than 100 carparks across all sites.