Bob LeFridge  Mar 1

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

Show threadRaglan Niall  
@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.
Mar 1 at 11:21pmWeb
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