New Zealand's regional areas are about to get some relief dealing with freedom campers, with a $12 million fund for what Prime Minister John Key calls ''small infrastructure projects''.
Mr Key announced the new funding at the Trenz tourism conference in Rotorua today.
Freedom campers have caused plenty of controversy in the south, cramming into car parks and other public spaces with limited or no facilities for ablutions.
Mr Key said the money, to be provided over four years, would help communities ''cope with the growing number of tourists and independent travellers, such as freedom campers''.
The pre-budget announcement also included an extra $8 million for Tourism New Zealand to target hey growth markets like India and the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Tourism Industry Association chief executive Chris Roberts responded the fund was ''a good start''.
There would be no shortage of worthy projects, and if enough sensible investment ideas were presented, there would be good reasons for the Government to add more in future.
'I would expect it to be oversubscribed.''
