We need to get the balance right between attracting high value guests to our area. Guests that will shop in our town, visit cafes and restaurants. Guests that will enjoy and respect our area and promote it to others. We don't want to attract a number of guests that are a drain on our rate payers and only purchase basic food and petrol.

Selected locations for freedom camping should be far enough away from rate-paying residential homes that they don't allow noise disturbance or intrusion onto private property,

Watchdog groups

Budget travel ACCOMMODATION at freedom camps, for both international and domestic travellers allows your district to bring valuable tourists into the area. Campers need to eat, buy fuel, shop, dine, use the business services in your area, and because they bring their OWN accommodation with them, (either on wheels, or a tent), they are easy to manage , plus still add to the economy wherever they stay. They are not burdensome freeloaders. Responsible campers are great for your district, which may often be overlooked as a drive through place, rather than a stop and explore DESTINATION. Horowhenua is close enough to large population areas and city hubs, but far enough away for short sustainable travel. The cost benefit for Wellington and Palmerton North travellers to come to your area to camp for weekends or longer is hugely positive. Tourists on their way North Or South from Wellington need to know you're only an hour away, and stopping to camp is a great option. If you're providing public facilities...toilets or rubbish bin... for daytrippers to enjoy in any public area, enabling a freedom camper to stay overnight adds very little extra servicing cost. Plus adds a level of night time security to an area. Government studies prove that per person, a budget camping tourist spends more $$$$ in NZ when they visit - due to staying longer, engaging more with our people, seeing more of our beautiful country than any high value tourist who comes for a short stay and only uses luxury accommodation. Welcoming freedom campers enables you to offer budget, family friendly places to increase the wellbeing and outdoor experience of more people. The long term benefits of camping are well documented. Become a freedom camping friendly district and more people will have the opportunity to stop a while in Horowhenua. It's a great tourism promotion strategy

Freedom camping gives an oportunity for people to come explore and visit our beautiful countryside. Something they might not do usually as we are not really a tourist hotspot. This has to be good for our economy and encourage people to move to this area. It is also traditional for familys to go out and spend time with there family during the holidays. For some this might be their only holiday

Allowing freedom camping is about creating an option for those people who want to camp for free. It shouldn't become freeload camping where our rate payers are paying for people to camp for extended periods of time.

Great, well serviced, roomy summer camping spot to enable families to experience all the benefits of camping and outdoor recreation. The River side site has plenty of space and a family can settle in for their holidays here. Great idea. Short stay is fine, but to allow a decent holiday break without having to pack up and move is better

3 days is not enough for local families who wish to stay there, especially over the holidays

Going to a freedom site where there are long term campers can add uncertainty as the 'prime' spots are taken so one tends to go where one can if there is room. Need to be mindful of our overseas guests as well. So, no 10 days is too long. Perhaps 4 to 5 nights out of high season.

Especially with the current housing crisis