The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) is taking a local body to the High Court in a bid to protect the rights of its members to freedom camp.

The NZMCA will seek to have Westland District Councils Freedom Camping bylaw quashed when New Zealand public and employment law specialists Chen Palmer file papers with the High Court in Greymouth on Monday.

In announcing the legal challenge, NZMCA General Manager Bruce Lochore said the Westland District Council has adopted an overly restrictive Freedom Camping Bylaw in breach of the Freedom Camping Act. "Thats a view shared by the Westland District Councils own Strategy Committee, which recommended a number of changes to the Draft Policy and Bylaw," said Mr Lochore."However, the council opted to ignore the Strategy Committees recommendations - even with the knowledge the NZMCA would seek a judicial review to have the bylaw quashed if it went ahead."

Mr Lochore explained that in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup, councils sought to have a mechanism to deal with the worst offending freedom campers. "The Government gave them the Freedom Camping Act which allowed them to ban or restrict freedom camping in certain areas and the ability to issue fines. The Government also ensured the rights of every Kiwi who freedom camps responsibly are secured by making councils identify specific sites they want banned and justifying those decisions."

During Parliamentary debates on the issue, Kate Wilkinson (Minister of Conservation) said: "The Act is pro-camping and local authorities are expected to take a permissive approach."

"However, the Westland District Council has effectively imposed a prohibition on freedom camping on all public land and roads within 1km of the boundary of all townships and settlements," said Mr Lochore."In doing so they have ignored their obligations to adequately assess any perceived issues and consider alternative measures which may be appropriate and proportionate to the issue."

Chen Palmer will also present a number of other breaches the WDC has committed in creating the bylaw.

Mr Lochore stated the NZMCA is bitterly disappointed to have been forced to take this action: "We have committed considerable expertise and resources to councils over the past months and have demonstrated our willingness to work with them. But we will not sit back and have the rights of our members to responsibly freedom camp stomped on by any council."

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NZMCA seeks to quash Freedom Camping bylaw

Freedom Preparatory Academy students, families, staff, faculty, board members and community members gathered Saturday afternoon for the groundbreaking of the school's new building in Provo.

The new school, which will be built near the current building, will house students in grades seven through 12. Kindergarten through sixth grade classes will remain in the old building. The expansion will be finished in August, in time for the 2013-14 school year.

The decision to expand the charter school to include a high school involved a lengthy application process and much discussion in the community about the building of the new school.

On Saturday, though, excitement was high.

"It's a great day," said Ken Parkinson, the school's chief administrative officer. "It's going to be a beautiful school."

Director Lynne Herring credited the parents of students at the school for the expansion, explaining that many of them wanted to keep their children in the charter school.

For the small group of ninth-graders who have been students at the school since its creation, the day held particular significance.

Taylor Parkinson, a ninth-grader from Springville, said he had been thinking of going to a different school for high school. But with Freedom Academy's expansion, he's excited to continue at the school.

Beck Hansen, 14, of Provo explained that "it's cool to know that we were the first ones at the school and have been here since the beginning."

"It's a magical day," Bethany Day, 15, of Provo added, as a big smile spread across her face.

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Freedom Academy breaks ground for new addition

Freedom campers who break the rules in the Queenstown and Wanaka districts are being hit hard in the pocket.

Under the new Freedom Camping Bylaw, 511 infringement fines have been issued in Queenstown and Wanaka since December 22 - nearly double the number for the same time the year before.

The new bylaw came into effect on December 19, replacing the former bylaw which also allowed the council to issue $200 infringement fines.

Lakes Environmental regulatory and corporate manager Lee Webster said since the enforcement level was the same as under the previous bylaw, his only explanation for the increase was a rise in visitor numbers to the Lakes District.

He said for the period from December 22, 2011, to January 11, 2012, a total of 279 fines were issued.

''That's 232 more - it's getting up to almost double.

''It's demonstrating the influx of people to our community,'' Mr Webster said.

Under the new bylaw ''some boundaries have changed but the general principles are the same''.

The council's enforcement officers worked for two hours ''in the early hours of the morning'', the same as under the previous bylaw.

Mr Webster said 47 freedom camping infringements had been issued in the Boundary St car park, all in January.

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Freedom campers hit in pocket