Davis Kelvin: Freedom Camping Bill — In Committee 
Davis Kelvin: Freedom Camping Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:675;Page:20663] 
KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) 
: 
 I would like to draw the Committee’s attention to the meaning of “local authority area”. The bill states: “local authority area—(a) means an area of land—(i) that is within the district or region of a local authority;”. It is the areas of land that are of concern. They are where people will park up or camp in. I think there is a pragmatic practical solution that if the Government had not cut the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme could have involved a joint venture between the Government local authorities and other organisations within the community such as schools sports clubs and possibly even marae so that the whole cost of providing facilities is not borne solely by the Crown. You see most schools sports clubs and marae would love to have their ablution blocks upgraded and improved. I think there would have been real scope to do that through something like the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme which the Government has cut. 
There would be issues to do with getting registered or whatever if the car-park or sports field at the school or rugby club say or the car-park at the marae was to be used as a temporary camping-ground. But I think that would ease a lot of congestion on the streets. I have been to Nelson and seen the street that the Hon Maryan Street spoke about where in one evening 26 cars parked up. There were two temporary toilets—Portaloos—and a couple of rubbish bins there for the campers to use because there was no room at the local camping-ground. If there was a bit of thought we could come up with a solution whereby any overflow could go to those sorts of facilities. 
Where I grew up the ablution block—the shower facilities and toilets—in the first-ever rugby club I played for have not been touched in 40 years. They are a mess but with a bit of thought using something such as the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme the club itself the local authority and the Government could all pitch in to upgrade those facilities. There is a huge car-park there and a huge sports field which in summer is nice and hard. People could park there if there was overflow from camping grounds. In fact those bodies could perhaps set themselves up to get a bit of income for the local sports club because these days they are certainly struggling for members and struggling to raise funds in other ways. With a bit of thought and a bit of organisation that could be a way for the particular sports club I am talking about to get a bit of income over the course of the summer break when the facilities are not being used for sports. I believe that with a bit of thought we could solve this issue and not have people camping out on roads or in car-parks in the middle of town. So it would not be the major problem that it is now. 
I endorse what my colleague Stuart Nash said about the possibility that this matter could well be settled in court because of the lack of definition of short-term and temporary parking. I think he raised a very valid point about that. 
I also say that I think the Supplementary Order Paper from Rahui Katene is a very good Supplementary Order Paper. The Labour Opposition will support it. I think it is really important. It is a pity that it was missed out in the first place. The Supplementary Order Paper inserts a Tiriti o Waitangi clause that basically makes sure that the Crown recognises and respects Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the responsibilities it has to take account of te Tiriti. The Supplementary Order Paper also deals with the responsibility of local authorities having to take account of te Tiriti. 
It is really important that local Maori are involved in any decision making on the areas where camping may or may not be banned. It is very important that Maori have this input.