Four freedom camping ambassadors will be out and about this summer to assist and advise freedom campers across the district.
High profile areas like Hipapatua (Reid's Farm) will be attended regularly as well as other areas and reserves, including Turangi and Mangakino.
Head of community, culture and heritage, Dylan Tahau said the ambassadors will be advising campers on how long they can stay, what to do with refuse, local alcohol bylaws, and how to take care of our environment by not washing in our lakes and rivers and using designated toilet facilities.
"This is a great step to continue to look after our taonga and the place we love," he said.
The ambassadors will also be collecting data about freedom camping so that we can get a better understanding of visitor trends, how long campers are staying, what they do while here, and what facilities they use. The ambassadors aim to be a friendly face for visitors and locals alike, and will also be passing on information about any unwanted behaviour to our compliance teams. They can be identified by their green uniforms, as opposed to the blue uniforms worn by our roving community ambassadors, who offer directions, recommendations and assistance to visitors around the town centre, lakefront and reserves.
This initiative has been made possible through a funding agreement between Taupō District Council and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. It is part of the Tourism Facilities Development Grant Fund and covers the 2018-2019 season.