Katene Rahui: Freedom Camping Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Katene Rahui: Freedom Camping Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20574. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 Tena koe e te Manu Korero. I am really pleased to stand and speak to the second reading of the Freedom Camping Bill today. This bill rests upon the concept of freedom. It responds to the practice of freedom camping which is when people camp away from sites that are recognised as camping grounds. Any legislative attempt to define or interpret the concept of freedom whether or not it is in the context of camping is of course asking for trouble. We are reminded of the challenge by Abraham Lincoln: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves”. The question in this case is however not black and white because the so-called freedom for tourists whether they be international or domestic tourists to pitch a tent to park their caravan or to drive their car campervan house truck or any other type of vehicle on to a piece of land has brought with it adverse consequences for those living around the area and particularly for mana whenua who take very seriously their responsibilities for kaitiakitanga for guardianship of tribal land. So I choose another interpretation of freedom from Janis Joplin in the song “Me and Bobby McGee” which says: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” For what we have experienced with freedom camping in my electorate of Te Tai Tonga has a massive loss in terms of the way the litter of human waste has trampled on the mana of the local people and the special places in our rohe.  
I first raised this issue over a year ago in March 2010 when I called on freedom campers to show respect and for local business owners to inform manuhiri of the need to be careful with their rubbish and body waste. The problem of freedom camping has been particularly apparent in Te Wai Pounamu no doubt because of our priceless beauty and our unique landscapes which draw tourists to them in huge numbers. So we have frequently reported sightings of the freedom camper species in areas like Fiordland Otago Southland West Coast and Nelson-Marlborough. They have even been reported in major centres like Christchurch. To get an indication of the scale of the problem at the top of the south in Marlborough complaints over irresponsible freedom camping increased from 80 in 2006 right up to 432 in 2009. Most complaints were about non - self-contained vehicles used by overseas visitors. At the other end of the motu in Queenstown Department of Conservation staff monitored six sites with “No Camping” signs during February to April 2010. Between one and four vans were found at each site visited. Human waste and toilet paper were common and widespread. The issue had erupted for me over the disrespect accorded Nga Niho Pa a traditional pa site in Kaikoura. The ultimate offence was shown when the so-called freedom campers were using this traditional pa site to empty their toilet waste. So yes from a basis of cultural integrity we certainly agree with the sentiment expressed in the lyrics that there is “nothing left to lose.”  
The Maori Party will fight to the nth degree to protect and preserve Papatuanuku to prepare for our environment and to care for our environment in any way befitting. So I have much pleasure in announcing that in time for the second reading I have released Supplementary Order Paper 266 to ensure that mana whenua are intimately associated with the monitoring supervising and decision making around the provisions to combat freedom camping. My amendment inserts a new clause 3A “Tiriti o Waitangi”. The clause notes: “In order to recognise and respect the Crown’s responsibility to take appropriate account of the te Tiriti o Waitangi local authorities and any person acting on behalf of local authorities must act in a way that is consistent with te Tiriti o Waitangi when exercising powers or performing functions under this Act.” I think that it is really important when we consider any legislation that we consider what it means for tangata whenua as the indigenous peoples of this land and a Treaty clause is a very clear way of being able to formalise intent into action. Acting in a Treaty-compliant manner will ensure consultation with iwi as an important means of protecting the integrity of the associated ecosystems together with the taonga contained within them for their own sake and for the benefit of future generations. We want to be assured that there will be robust and accountable work practices by local government and regional authorities when working with mana whenua. Taking appropriate account of the Treaty will mean that iwi who exercise a customary right over the associated lands will be automatically involved in the response. 
Within the terms of a kaupapa-driven economic framework the Maori Party believes that kaitiakitanga becomes imbued with value in cultural social and economic terms. Within the terms of the Treaty mana whenua will be involved in devising solutions to reduce the pressure on the environment and avoid long-term costs to future generations. In the case of this bill the economic returns from the manifestation of kaitiakitanga are spelt out explicitly under the examples described as a strict liability offence. To name just a few the offence of freedom camping is described as taking place when the flora or fauna is interfered with or damaged or waste is deposited on to the area other than into a waste receptacle. But freedom camping is also considered an offence when individuals fail or refuse to leave conservation land when required to do so by an enforcement officer. It is about preventing unnecessary damage and destruction. Environmental protection becomes viewed as an inherent part of citizenship. We see the kaupapa achieving an economic value in that the long-term stewardship of the environment and ecosystems is most effectively provided by committed citizens individually and collectively. Tangata whenua in carrying out our obligations and duties to protect our primary ecosystems are acting in ways that are necessary for future economic prosperity. 
Of course we all know the real reason this issue has suddenly appeared on the Order Paper is because of the Rugby World Cup and the Government’s anxiety to get our house in order before we prepare to welcome the crowds. I would rather that we were taking this action out of a genuine concern for the environment but notwithstanding my cynicism we will be supporting this bill in the longer-term interests of the environment and the cultural integrity of our unique places.