Mackenzie flushes away free loos with a proposed toilet fee

Travellers in the Mackenzie district may soon struggle to find a free toilet, as the council considers a proposal to introduce a user-pays system.

By Claire Taylor for Local Democracy Reporting

The agenda for Tuesday’s Mackenzie District Council meeting includes a report by general manager of operations and regulatory services Neil Jorgensen which proposes a district-wide public toilet strategy.

Jorgensen’s report says the district’s toilets received about 900,000 users a year and generate $80,000 in annual revenue against operating costs of $800,000.

Under the proposed strategy, user-pays systems would be introduced at the public facilities on Fairlie’s Main St, at Burkes Pass, Lakeside Dr in Tekapo and Twizel’s main centre.

Lake Opuha, Edwards Stream, Pukaki Canal campsite and Tekapo town centre facilities would remain free, although all except the latter are long-drops.

The strategy would also include a user-pays pilot at the Lake Pukaki facilities, which sit on Meridian Energy land, to gauge demand.

Electronic donation technology would be introduced across the district’s public facilities and campgrounds, including at Ruataniwha, Edwards Stream and Lake Wardell

The report said the technology would reduce reliance on cash, staff time spent collecting and processing payments, and the impact of vandalism or theft, while making it easier for visitors to contribute.

Toilet user charges were introduced under the council’s 2025/26 Annual Plan, with a user-pays system installed at the Tekapo footbridge and Hamilton Drive facilities.

But last year, after the council ruled only non-urban facilities should have user-pays applied, the system was removed from the Tekapo footbridge facilities.

The payment system was then re-introduced to the footbridge facilities in April, with the council citing high annual maintenance costs.

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Existing charges are set at $1.50 for electronic payment and $2 for coins, with rates for the newly proposed sites yet to be confirmed.

- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air