More city councillors are questioning whether freedom camping should be allowed in Christchurch after reports of antisocial behaviour and sites being overwhelmed by vehicles.

Some councillors say they would consider banning freedom camping in Christchurch. Others believe that would push the problem from one place to another.

Complaints about littering, partying, and human faeces being found at freedom camping sites have sparked the council to bring forward a review of the bylaw it passed late last year.

JOSEPH JOHNSON/FAIRFAX NZ German tourists Marie Lisson, left, and Johanna Wolf enjoy breakfast while legally freedom camping in the Addington Park car park.

Meanwhile, the Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board has asked the council to temporarily close the freedom camping site at Addington Park's car park, at the city end of the Southern Motorway, after "numerous issues and concerns raised by residents".

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In November, the council approved a bylaw banning freedom camping within the city's four avenues, in the main areas of Lyttelton and Akaroa, and on council-owned land around New Brighton pier.

It allowed people in non self-contained vehicles to freedom camp in the Addington Park car park, the Windsport Park in Humphreys Dr, and in the parking area next to the Lower Styx River Mouth Recreation area.

Hagley-Ferrymead councillor Paul Lonsdale said the bylaw was due for review in 2017, two years after it was passed.

"But there's a clear message being sent that we need to do this much quicker," he said.

Lonsdale was aware of the problems at Windsport Park and said campers were flouting the rules by staying on site all day when they were required to leave before 9am.

Not using toilets and campers brushing their teeth and then spitting into the estuary was "just not acceptable", Lonsdale said.

"There has been a call made that freedom camping should only be allowed on the fringes of the city and away from residents, so that's an option."

Cr Jamie Gough said more enforcement was needed and the bylaw review should be expedited.

"At the moment, the issues we're seeing means [the bylaw] is not fit for purpose."

Banning it entirely was "on the table", Gough said.

"If enough people say it's too problematic then prohibiting it may be a way forward."

Cr Yani Johanson did not believe a blanket ban would solve the problem, but said the bylaw had created new issues.

A focus on reducing the number of vehicles parking up at the freedom camping spots would be helpful, he said.

"It's a case of the minority that are ruining it for everyone with antisocial behaviour and defecating."

Banks Peninsula councillor Andrew Turner said French Farm, Windsport Park and Addington Park had been overwhelmed by the volume of campers.

"This is not something we had ever envisaged."

Although the bylaw banned freedom camping on parts of the foreshore at French Farm, campers had condensed themselves into an area where camping was allowed.

Up to 50 vehicles were parked up at French Farm each night, compared to about 25 or 30 two years ago, Turner said.

He was among the councillors who believed a central Government review of the Freedom Camping Act 2011 was needed.

"This is a national problem, not just a local one."

Regulations and consents committee chairman Cr David East said the bylaw had effectively shifted the problems to different parts of the city – from New Brighton to Windsport Park, from Akaroa to French Farm.

"Are we encouraging them to go to [proper] camping grounds or are we encouraging this more basic, free style of camping within a metropolitan area?"

Council licensing and compliance manager Fiona Proudfoot​ earlier this month said the council monitored the freedom camping sites regularly and staff would report back to the council on the issues in April.