Clayton Mitchell MP

Spokesperson for Conservation and Sports and Recreation
OCTOBER 21 2016

DOC Gives Big Discounts to Tourists – Kiwis Pay Full Charge

Tourists are paying much less than Kiwis at DOC campgrounds, says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Conservation and Sports and Recreation Clayton Mitchell.

“The Department of Conservation (DOC) is favouring tourists who rent campervans by giving them a big discount, up to 50%, to stay at New Zealand taxpayer funded campsites while ordinary Kiwis are charged the full price.

“Not only is it cheaper for tourists, they can also use the passes to pre-book prime sites at peak NZ holiday season – so Kiwis families can’t even get a beachfront site.

“It’s appalling Kiwi families who work hard all year saving for their summer holidays are now being pushed aside and treated like second-class citizens in their own country just because freedom campers have been treating our great outdoors as a toilet.

“Why should ordinary Kiwis have to pay and subsidise them?

“We understand also that rental van companies are getting a kick-back with commission being paid on every pass they sell.

“At the same time DOC is peddling some PR waffle saying the discounts will reduce cash from the system and so improve admin efficiency and the safety and wellbeing of staff.

“Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry needs to scrap this unfair discount immediately and come up with stronger measures to deal with the explosion of freedom campers,” says Mr Mitchell.

ENDS

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