Preserving our uniquely Kiwi way of life this summer

New Zealanders enjoy a unique and valued way of life, built on our heritage, our values and our environment.

From remote conservation areas in the heart of native bush, to beachside holiday parks where the whole family gets a dose of surf and sand, the camping holiday remains a favourite Kiwi tradition.

Trading in the comforts of the home to pitch a tent in one of New Zealand's picturesque spots is a firm part of the Kiwi psyche.

Fortunately for Kiwis, New Zealand holiday parks and campgrounds are among the best value and well equipped in the world. But it is absolutely essential that camping grounds continue to be available for Kiwi families to enjoy.

New Zealanders have always known that they live in paradise. But unfortunately, this means that many also want to own a piece of paradise, which has helped to inflate land prices beyond the reach of ordinary New Zealanders, a state of affairs which New Zealand First has been warning of for years. Globalisation now means our land is lucrative and affordable to overseas buyers, with no interest in our long-term future. Rises in land values in recent years have led to coastal land in particular being sold for residential development, thus lowering the number of camping opportunities around the country.

New Zealand First has long advocated the need for ordinary Kiwis to have inexpensive access to the country's popular holiday areas, urging the Government to ensure that private property developers don't monopolise areas situated in prime coastal areas. We were very pleased, therefore, with the Conservation Minister's announcement that four new camping spots on land administered by the Department of Conservation will be opened in time for summer. A fifth site will be opened by the middle of next year.

One of the new DoC camping sites is at Canaan Downs, adjoining the Abel Tasman National Park. It will accommodate about 50 people in an area popular with mountain bikers, trampers and cavers. Other sites to open are in the Marlborough Sounds, Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands, Ox Bow Kiripapango campsite on the banks of the Ngaruroro River in Kaweka Forest Park, and an extension to the campground at Port Jackson at the far tip of the Coromandel Peninsula.

In fact, 100 potential camping grounds on Department of Conservation land had been identified to make up for existing sites around the country being lost to development. So, there is still plenty of room for Kiwis who enjoy the outdoors. The trick is now to ensure that parks and spaces that have been created for the benefit of the entire nation are able to be enjoyed by all. Private property owners can't be blamed for wanting to profit from their investments, but if it means that ordinary Kiwis no longer have access to New Zealand's popular holiday areas, then action needs to be taken.

New Zealand First is pleased that the Conservation Minister is taking action to reverse the decline in the number of campgrounds.

We are a nation of fishers, sailors, hunters and hikers and proudly so, and the introduction of more campsites for families to enjoy is a very welcome step towards retaining an iconic feature of the unique Kiwi lifestyle.

Doug Woolerton MP