One of the South Islands iconic camping grounds is to close for the winter season.
Glendhu Bay in Wanaka is a popular camping ground for the winter ski season traveller and temporary ski field staff alike. However, the camp was losing money as visiting skiers and boarders increasingly chose to park on the side of the road in sleeping vans.
Many of these itinerant workers follow the ski season globally and choose to live in their vans by the side of the road. They then expect to be able to come into the camping ground to use the shower, toilets, kitchen facilities and waste dumping stations.
Glendhu Bays Ms Illington claim that it is getting worse every year. She often counts between eight to fifteen sleeping vans parked outside the camping grounds gates each night.
With the onset of the ski season local police are also preparing for the usual influx of temporary workers and itinerant ski/snowboard travellers. Crime rates greatly increase with these new arrivals.
Businesses in ski resort towns are already reporting the usual steady flow of itinerant hopefuls looking for employment.
Most real estate agencies have also reported that short term rental accommodation has all been let. Agents however report that there is an increasing unwillingness for home owners to rent their properties to ski season visitors.