The desperation and frustration are becoming increasingly evident in Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district.
The problem? Freedom camping. Or, as the Central Otago District Council has decided to label it: ''irresponsible camping''. It doesn't want to lump everyone in together. After all, there are many responsible campers.
They are perfectly willing to pay a relatively small fee to stay in a recognised Department of Conservation camping ground or privately-owned holiday park. If they venture off the beaten track to stay at a scenic spot on public land they do so in fully self-contained camper vans with toilet facilities.
Others may camp in tents, or sleep in their cars or smaller, non self-contained rental vans but still live by the mantras New Zealanders grew up with: ''be a tidy Kiwi'' and ''take nothing but photos; leave nothing but footprints''.
In the days when camping in the great New Zealand outdoors meant an often arduous journey to and from a remote location on a dusty, potholed, cattlestop-lined road, and only a thin piece of canvas for protection from the elements, it also meant respecting the environment. A spade to dig a toilet and cover the waste, and plastic bags to gather any non-compostable waste for disposal back in the city were non-negotiables.
It was a source of pride to pack up a campsite, dampen down the campfire, and move on virtually without a trace, taking home a load of rubbish and another summertime of shared memories.
Of course not everyone was so responsible, but when there were relatively few people, that was less of a problem. Now, however, we are well and truly victims of our own success. Hordes of visitors descend on the country each year, all seeking the same thing we treasure: clean, green,100% Pure New Zealand, stunning scenery and the freedom to enjoy it.
Sadly though, there are those who, out of ignorance or thoughtlessness, do not play their part in keeping the country pristine. Sadly, too, we are not fully playing our part - either in keeping it pristine or helping visitors to do that. For, even as we actively encourage these visitors, competing interests are undermining our natural assets. As we enthusiastically welcome more tourists, we have failed to keep up with basic infrastructure. A top-up here and there is not enough.
The South's mayors have had enough. Several of them - representing areas with small populations and limited infrastructure - have written to the Government requesting a tourist levy and more money to improve infrastructure. They simply cannot combat the problem alone, they say.
The call is not new. Past and present Queenstown mayors have also sought the same from the Government, which views the tax as anathema to it and visitors. It says it has targeted funds available to help councils cope. The mayors do not accept a $20 levy is an imposition.
Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation is hiking its rates - for tourists and locals alike - who use the huts and campsites on its Great Walks. It is understandable given the maintenance needed and the increasing numbers. The department rightly says the walks are ''flagship'' experiences and are worth paying more for.
While the experience for children remains free, it seems a shame New Zealanders must also pay the same rates as foreign tourists. The department says it does not have the resources to do what is required to differentiate.
The country benefits from tourism, yet we are also paying a price for our open-door policy. A unified approach to address the problems is desirable. At the moment councils and departments seem to be working in isolation or at odds with each other. That is not helping anyone.
