New Zealand is widely thought of as a 'clean green' country full of natural resources and good for living, camping, tramping and holidaying in. This has been my impression of it since childhood. Several of my family were born here and think of it as home.

One of the things we prize most are the natural resources (clean rivers, pristine bush walks, challenging climbs, thermal areas, snow capped mountains, moderate conditions and precious few restrictions when it comes to enjoying them). That is until recently.

Now we hsee reports like this one:

'Disgusting' freedom campers anger residents

The increasing problem of freedom campers and the mess they are leaving in some of New Zealand's most idyllic spots has prompted action from one community.

The mess has one community board so upset that they have blocked some Queenstown lakeside lay-bys with boulders to stop people camping there.

Rachel Brown from Hawea Community Trust told TVNZ's Close Up programme that it is a huge problem that is rapidly escalating.

She says people are squatting right by the lake leaving human waste. Read more here