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House fire fundraiser page 3
Slalom sensations
The Mount Aspiring College Kayak Slalom team picked up 12 national titles at the New Zealand secondary school kayaking championships and the New Zealand open kayaking championships recently. The team consisted of Jessica and Holly Bailey, Tennesse Davis, Conor Hayes, Hugo Ayre, Luke Ruddenklau, Toby Lee and Hank Bilous. Jessica Bailey (pictured) won eight national titles in the under 16 females and is now ranked number one for under 18 females in New Zealand. Holly Bailey came away with seven national titles in the under 14 females, including combining with Jess to win the under 16 C2 class and the under 16 team paddling with Jess and Tennessee. Another stand-out performance was Luke Ruddenklau and Hank Bilous winning the under 14 male C2 event and combining with Toby Lee to place second in the team event. The championships were held in Kawerua in the Bay Of Plenty. The local kids competed in three kayak slalom disciplines: kayak one person, (K1) canoe one person, (C1) and canoe two person (C2).
Eight local kids: 12 national titles, 31 medals A colourful past page 4
Waking up page 7
sunviews page 13
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Fines for freedom Sue Wards
Freedom campers have been hit from two sides this week, with the Queenstown Lakes District Council rubber-stamping a bylaw introducing tighter controls on crappy campers and Environment Minister Nick Smith announcing new legislation with the same intention. “We need to make sure we nail irresponsible freedom campers and encourage the good ones,” QLDC councillor Russell Mawhinney of the new bylaw, which introduces a ‘no freedom camping zone’ within the district - which would also apply to locals - and an instant fine of $200 for freedom campers found camping anywhere that is not a designated camping area. Camping within the zones is permitted in approved and designated camp sites. A great deal of “flow-on” work
will now be required relating to signage, communication and approved camping areas, Councillor Mawhinney said. Ninety-two submissions on the bylaw were received by council, with approximately 30 people speaking to their submissions at hearings in Wanaka and Queenstown. Councillor Mawhinney said significant changes were made to the draft bylaw, including a new section setting out the bylaw’s
Councillor Jude Battson, of Lake Hawea, said the process involved hours of deliberation. “We did not want to deter people from doing what they’ve been doing for years, because we know they are responsible campers,” she said. “Personally, I think it’s a shame it’s come to this. When I was a child New Zealand was clean and green. People were raised to be responsible campers.” The Hawea Community
I think it’s a good beginning. – HCA President Rachel Brown principles, to reflect people’s concerns about maintaining the traditional Kiwi camping experience. The original “no camping” zones were also significantly reduced in size.
Association helped bring the issue of freedom campers to national notice in April 2010 when it blocked access to three popular camping spots on the Lake Hawea shoreline because
of defecation and litter in the areas. Community Association president Rachel Brown said the new bylaw is “a good beginning” which must be followed up with education and national
Minister will enable councils and DOC to determine where camping is allowed, put in place a consistent signage scheme and impose a $200 instant fine for illegal camping. Fines of up
I think it’s a terrible, Draconian imposition. – Julian Haworth funding to construct more toilets for campers. Submitter Julian Haworth, who owned a backpackers’ hostel for 15 years, said the new bylaw is a “terrible, Draconian imposition”, when spending $150,000 on new toilets would solve the problem. “They’re going to make overseas tourists very angry by hassling them,” he said. The Freedom Camping Bill introduced by the Environment
to $10,000 may be imposed by courts for illegally discharging a campervan’s sewage. The QLDC believes its new bylaw is well-aligned with the proposed legislation. The QLDC bylaw will come into effect this Saturday, May 21, and the national Freedom Camping Bill will be introduced to Parliament later this month.