Freedom camping is now banned at one of Taranaki's best surfing breaks due to complaints about human excrement, used toilet paper and rubbish fouling the beach.

Paora Rd, south of Okato, is one of two sites where camping has just been outlawed following a review by the South Taranaki District Council of its freedom camping bylaw.

Chris Wilkes, a local surfer who chained the public toilet shut at Paora Rd in December 2016 to protest the numbers of campers and the mess, said he was thrilled with the news.

GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF The Paora Rd carpark now empty of camper vehicles.

"It was the only logical decision really. It's quite a significant site for Māori and a sacred site for the surfing community, we've been really unhappy to see it being abused by freedom campers who don't seem to have any respect for the environment.

"It's been a long time coming, it's quite satisfying for the locals to finally see it happening. We're very happy."

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GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF No exit and now, no camping is allowed, at Paora Rd in South Taranaki.

People wanting to camp for free could go to Cape Egmont, Opunake, or head north to New Plymouth district.

"It will go back to how it used to be, once we've got rid of the litter and the toilet paper lying around, there will be nobody stepping in human faeces which has been an issue, which has been happening every week," Wilkes said.

A limit of three vehicles was previously permitted overnight at the site, but there were regularly 30 or more, with just one public toilet.

Issues of freedom campers fouling a hapu's burial ground and nearby reserve, which adjoins the council land on Paora Rd, were raised in March 2016 by representatives of Nga Mahanga when the STDC was hearing submissions for its freedom camping bylaw, which came into effect a year ago.

Wilkes said many of the freedom campers were young Germans, many still teenagers or in their early 20s.

Some of these visitors spoiled the area for everybody else with their behaviour.

"They don't have a lot of knowledge in terms of caring for the environment, they'll park 50 metres from the toilets, then they'd rather p*** outside their car and leave a bit of toilet paper outside their car, than walk 50 metres, it's really dirty from our perspective."

He said districts like Taranaki, which allowed free camping, were missing out on income.

"People come here and don't spend any money, we've kind of become a soft touch. They save their money for places like Raglan, where freedom camping is prohibited and the camp ground is always really busy."

Camping has also been banned outside the Kaponga Memorial Hall carpark in the STDC review, Phil Waite, STDC community facilities manager said.

It was popular with tourists because of the free wifi in the town's library, but library users were unhappy about campers taking up all the parking spaces outside,

"We had complaints of freedom campers doing their laundry and hanging it on the playground next door to dry."

The council had already removed the listing for the two sites from the freedom camping app Campermate and from its own brochures and website.

Waite said the council would employ seven freedom camping ambassadors from early January, after a trial at Kaponga over recent months proved a success.

Local people would monitor the camping places in their own areas, he said.

As the title suggested, the ambassadors would be friendly and welcoming, but would have the power to move people on where necessary.

"It's about having good people who have good communication skills, who can educate freedom campers that are there to do the right thing."

The STDC has also increased the number of vehicles permitted at other sites, including Mana Bay in Patea, Lake Rotokare and Opunake Lake, and the areas where camping is permitted have been altered at Halse Place and MIddleton Bay, Opunake.