Photo by Queenstown Lakes District Council.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council regulatory manager Lee Webster said most offenders this summer had been ticketed in or near Queenstown.

''We've certainly issued less infringements,'' Mr Webster said.

''I can't say whether or not that's because there's been less people in town freedom camping or whether or not it is because people are adhering to the requirements of our bylaw.

''Maybe people are adhering to the bylaw but we do still have those issues.''

The council issued 794 infringement notices between November 2013 and mid-February 2014, 270 fewer than the corresponding months last summer.

''As a council we have to clear that [rubbish from freedom campers] away, [but] where we can, like anyone who's littering ... we try and find if we've got an owner.''

But it was much harder to catch litterers from freedom camping than those from households.

''With someone who's freedom camping it's usually just cans or rubbish without anything that will link it back to a vehicle.

''It's basically just us clearing it up.''

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Freedom camping fines drop