The head of Local Government New Zealand hopes a meeting today with government ministers will make progress on the freedom camping problem.
Queenstown Lakes District Council has imposed a ban on freedom campers. Photo: Supplied / QLDC
Mayors from around the country will meet with the Local Government Minister, and Minister of Conservation at the symposium in Nelson.
The government has set up a working group to help provide recommendations to control freedom campers.
Local Government's president, Dave Cull, said today's symposium is the start of the process.
"What I think it will achieve is an exchange of views and an understanding of the issues," he told RNZ.
The working group includes the mayors of Queenstown, Central Otago, Rotorua Lakes and the Christchurch deputy mayor.
The Minister of Conservation Eugiene Sage blamed a lack of coordination between councils, government and the tourism industry for the failure to address growing problems.
She has told local government and tourism officials at a the symposium that freedom camping legislation set up around the Rugby World Cup in 2011 is outdated, and the government is taking steps to put things right.
Ms Sage said the working council is due to provide some intial recommendations in the next few months.