Kia ora!
Thank you all for signing the petition to reject Stuart Nash's freedom camping policy changes.
Since this petition was created 2 weeks ago, it has received over 1600 signatures! Now is the time to keep the pressure on and the number growing. Every time we hit a 500 signature landmark, Stuart Nash receives an email telling him about us.
As our number grows, so does our chance of stopping this.
There have been a few questions that have come up over the last fortnight about the petition and other ways to help, hopefully the below helps to answer these! If you have any other questions or ideas please don't hesitate to contact me.
Where can I share the petition?
You can share the petition online with this link:
https://www.change.org/NoFreedomCampingPolicyChanges
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are ideal. Remember to share the link in online Groups, Pages and Forums too. You can also send the link in an email to your contacts.
Is this petition going to make any difference?
Yes - if we get the numbers.
Many battles have been won due to Change.org petitions. Recent examples include saving a community club from being sold in Terrigal, and stopping the building of a liquor superstore in a small community in Darwin. Closer to home, a Change.org petition was instrumental in NZ's banning of the plastic bag.
Unfortunately Parliament would not let me create my petition on their own platform because "it does not ask the House to take an action on an existing law." This Change.org petition can still be effective.
People power really does work. To increase our chance of stopping Nash's proposals, we need as many signatures as possible.
Is there anything else I can do?
Yes!
Email Stuart Nash directly at s.nash@ministers.govt.nz explaining that you reject his proposals. You don't need to write heaps, a few sentences is fine - please be polite (despite the recipient...) otherwise your email will not be taken seriously.
Email the MBIE at responsiblecamping@mbie.govt.nz - subject: "Submission re New Freedom Camping Proposals" You must write your views in a separate document (e.g. in Word) and attach it to the email.
If you choose to complete MBIE's survey, be mindful that many questions are very leading. There is also a risk the data will be interpreted in a biased way (e.g. "neutral" or "somewhat agree" treated as positive results) Feedback is open until May 16th.
Spread the word to everyone you know. Tell friends, whānau, colleagues, neighbours, and share your reasons for not agreeing with these dangerous proposals.
Finally, here is an example of an enforcement officer issuing a $200 fine only 4 days ago to a person resting in a parking space. Freedom Camping enforcement officers often get it wrong, do not know the rules they are supposedly enforcing, and issue fines unfairly. Under the new Proposals, the fine would be for $1000, and the officer would have the ability to confiscate the vehicle - which could be someone's only home.
Thank you for all that you do!
Jenni Reika