JOSEPH JOHNSON

Dossing down: Freedom campers using a council car park are upsetting local residents.

Tensions are escalating in a Christchurch suburb as freedom campers occupying a council-owned car park continue to antagonise residents.

Thefreedom campers' unruly behaviourin the car park on the corner of Beresford St and Union Rd in New Brighton sparked complaints from residents this week.

Neighbour Diane Greenfield, who lives next to the car park, said dozens of campers had a wild party on Wednesday. They drank heavily, slammed doors and beeped their horns in what she described as a "rebellion".

Greenfield believed the freedom campers were being intentionally loud and disruptive in retaliation to negative media exposure.

One tourist, 19-year-old German Max Viehmeier, described himself as one of the "hated" campers.

He said he had been at the New Brighton car park for a month, and campers had been considerate until recently.

"When I returned from a trip last week I was totally embarrassed," he said.

"There was a lot of rubbish and it looked like a festival."

More here:

Freedom camper 'rebellion' in Christchurch