Bob LeFridge  

At some stage of our lives, most kiwis have gone through the holiday ritual of setting up a tent in a grassy field next to a beach. But how much should park operators charge you for the privilege? I would've thought $25 to $30 pp would cover it. But I was wrong.

Pāpāmoa Holiday Park is charging $357.75 per night for the 2027 season for a sandy patch of grass. A luxury hotel room would be cheaper and more comfortable.

Around five years ago, Aussie company Tasman Holiday Parks starting buying NZ camp grounds -- they now own eleven of the things!

While initially promising that "nothing will change", Tasman have introduced "surge pricing" in an obvious attempt to gouge kiwi campers. Their pricing is dynamic so you can't see prices until you fill in the booking form.

The tradition of Kiwi camping has been enshittified by greedy Aussies. Who saw that coming?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360942763/taking-spirit-away-kiwi-camping-would-you-pay-almost-360-night-beachside-patch-grass

#NZ #Enshittification #Papamoa #TasmanHolidayParks

Stuff

Mar 1 at 8:49pmWeb
Show threadPhil Stevens Mar 1
@BobLefridge If I were in charge of things, I'd have every single concession holder reapply and add a stipulation for public good and accessibility. This is profiteering and enclosure. No justification for handing over our public lands to the private sector this way when their obvious game plan is enshittification.
Show threadScubywMar 1
@BobLefridge https://mastodon.nz/@BobLefridge/116155885469777358
Foreigners only 'invest' in NZ if they can rip us off. This kind of investment should not be allowed. If they want to invest in NZ to produce high-value goods for export and contribute to GDP is fine. Buying up real estate to rip off the consumers is just wrong.
Bob LeFridge :tinoflag: (@[email protected])

Content warning: Kiwi tradition enshittified by greedy Aussies

Mastodon NZ
Show threadPhilipMar 1

@BobLefridge This is shitty, but holy cow I do *not* understand the kiwi holiday camping thing! 😆
Everyone crowds together in an open field with like 2 trees. Half bring an entire motorhome, the rest have such fancy setups they may as well just be in their backyard. Aside from being beachside, what is the appeal?

It looks more like a tent city or music festival than camping. More chaotic than just being at home. I would not be able to relax in that environment.

That said, I'm happy that kiwis love it, and glad they get out and enjoy their way. (if you need me, I'll be off in the woods)

Show threadJoe  Mar 1
@BobLefridge , all forms of price gouging/exploitation really should be illegal.
Thanks for the info, I'll make sure not to use any of their facilities.
Show threadJude🇵🇸Mar 1
@BobLefridge Wtf??!!
Show threadRaglan Niall  Mar 1
@BobLefridge am I the only one who sees this as a supply problem? I've known Aotearoa nz for 17 years. In that time the number of holiday parks has barely changed (possibly reduced) and freedom camping has been killed for most, even if you have a $50k+ campervan meeting the latest restrictive 'self contained' rules. Meanwhile population has increased by at least 20%and we still market the kiwi campervan holiday internationally.
Where's the competition? Where's the space for us to enjoy the outdoors? It's far too easy to blame Aussies rather than looking at the bigger picture.
Show threadBob LeFridge  Mar 2

I see it more as an avarice problem.

I've never used a camping ground but a good friend looked at buying a 50% share in a Southland one back in 2020. Then, a tent site cost $5 per night, a caravan site including power was $20 per night.

That's my only reference point, so you'll appreciate that $357.75 per night seems like outright gouging to me.

That level of pricing would get you a pretty nice hotel room and dinner to boot. And you'd probably still have some change.

@Niall