After reading the articles around the various newspapers and especially hearing, listening to and reading the comments about this atrocity, it seems quite clear that this shocking attack on a couple minding their own business has turned into a debate about freedom campers toilet habits. That is another thing altogether. Lets get back on track here. This particular story is about some loose canon who took offence to someone parking in the way of his view of the ocean and thought it would be a good idea to try and kill them move them on by burning them alive in their campervan.

I can’t condone this type of activity but it seems he was on the rampage the night before when another camper was parked in the same spot with them. They left fearing their safety.

“The other campervan left when he threatened to shoot them”.

Did they contact the police and tell them about the “Angry Dad” and his alleged threat to kill with a firearm? No it seems not…

“Police wish to speak to the occupants of the second campervan, which left the site before the alleged attack.”

Now, only one person can be held to account for this attack, but it seems that the couple in the campervan that remained had other options and could have got themselves out of harms way a lot sooner, and called the police.

Enough of this nonsense of people who have no idea about camping, using this apalling attack on people who choose an alternative lifestyle as an excuse to ‘dump’ on them for their alleged toilet habits…

Great music, a hangi, a couple of large bonfires, plenty of liquid refreshments and a paddock to pitch the tent in.

Off topic, but a note anyway, (not that the people that this is intended for will actually read this).

The classified adverts system is for housetrucking, housebussing, (caravanning even) related listings. Please don’t post about your web design business in India, or your secsually oriented health products from the same continent. They won’t see  the light of day anyway, so don’t waste yours or my time.  If and when I decide to support some nefarious, spammy products, I will let you know. Members signing up just to post these items in the classifieds board are going to be dis-membered.

As you were…

A ban on freedom camping may be amended by the Dunedin City Council in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Council staff are set to meet community board representatives next month to discuss whether they want designated camping areas in their respective areas, as a way of controlling freedom campers and addressing health and safety issues.
…
If community boards decided they wanted designated freedom camping areas, then the council would need to consider facilities, such as toilets, and water, if they were not provided, Mrs Wheeler said. It was timely to review the freedom camping policy, particularly with the influx of visitors expected for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Read more at the ODT

A recent post by Keith where the rental companies are held accountable, but I still think that it won’t matter if there is a dunny in the van or not, as the types of people that drop one on the side of the road certainly won’t want to empty a cassette.
And my experience with one of those “types of people”

<RANT>
You only have to look at our governments to realise that home truth. There are definitely only a few of them, yet they strut around bullying us that they know best, are never held accountable for raping our wallets or for hairbrained schemes that have been proven to be based on false assumptions by the rest of the developed world. Yes, that jibe was directed fair and square at the munter called Nick Smith. A country run by bigger fools than the last lot who make laws just so they can say they actually did something while troughing it up at our expense. We gave up one nanny for another. So much for taking personal responsibility. But then again why would you when there is all manner of lovely gravy trains to feast on. The current government do not represent the principles the party was founded on. Just another bunch of tosspot politicians rorting the taxpayer, puffing themselves up and feathering their own nests.
</RANT>

I have been remiss lately in posting to this blog. I have plenty of material, it’s just finding the time to actually get the information posted. Nah really, it’s just me being bone lazy. I can make loads of excuses about how busy I am in all other aspects of my life, community, friends, work, sport, family, home etc etc, but it only takes 5 minutes a day to put something up.

I guess it’s because I don’t see many housetrucks out and about anymore. This last summer was a bit sad actually. There are loads of campervans floating around and more modern bus conversions, but we are just missing that old gypsy look on the road. I guess they are still out there, I just don’t see them anymore. Keeping them on the road is getting tougher and tougher too. Excessive fuel prices and complex Transport regulations.

If you are still looking at this site, I will try to get on here more often. I heard Mikes bus is all legit now, and I plan on getting around soon to take some photos. It sure is a beauty and Mike has done some great work on it. I wonder if he kept a build diary?

And just to recap: feel free to post articles about your vehicles or travels, but leave requests for information, buying and selling in the forum

Messy freedom campers who trundle around the country in sleeper vans without toilets or self-contained utilities should be “shot”, the president of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) said yesterday…

…NZMCA president Dick Waters said tourists in “whiz-bang” backpacker sleeper or rental vans should be banned and the drivers should be shot.

Not quite the right way to go about it,  shooting them just makes more mess for the poor old council workers to clean up.

From ages past, education has always only ever been good for “them that want to learn”. We all know there are just as many people out there will continue to drop one on the side of the road regardless of any enforcement strategies, information pamphlets, fines etc advising of the correct way to manage waste. Crikey! Some of em with toilets int he vehicle will still pull over and lay one out just to avoid dirtying the toilet!

While on the out and about a few weeks ago, I pulled into a rest area to find a rental campervan (with toilet, so its not just the freedom campers) emptying their cassette over the fence onto someone’s farmland. They were English tourists of Eastern descent..

“Oi,” I says…”Whaddya doin? You can’t dump that there? What about other people that stop here to rest?”
“It’s biodegradable, whats your problem?” was the really fast reply.
“How about I go and dump a load of sh*t in your front yard? I doubt it being biodegradable would make any difference to you then”
“I’d like to see you try,” he babbled, “I’m from England!”

I took the licence number and  reported the numb-nut to the local constabulary on the way through the next town (and to the rental company, who basically told me “who cares?”.)  But there you go! Just happy in the fact that what they were doing was ok.

“The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge” – Elbert Hubbard

Anyway, if you’re going to this Clutha Valley caravan club 20th anniversay in Lawrence, make sure you have a great time! Summer has arrived at last!

A new bylaw comes into effect that will see anyone pitching a tent by the beach, rather than at a camping ground fined $40.

Usual story: the few (including tourists) that spoil it for the many. You know, like dumping your waste on the side of the road because you can’t be arsed driving to the local dump station. This ban on freedom camping applies to all types of mobile accomodation, including the big ol’ housebus with full amenities.

I don’t expect it will be just by the beach either.

The council, parking the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, reckon they might lift the ban in the future, but if we don’t start hitting litterers real hard, then it will never work. $40 fine is jack all. It should be at least $500 for littering. We need to deter the activity, not punish the 95% of the population who are law abiding.