Supporting sustainable freedom camping in Aotearoa New Zealand

Policy changes

On 30 November 2021, the Minister of Tourism announced the freedom camping changes Government intends to make in 2022. These changes seek to improve the sustainability of freedom camping in New Zealand, protect the natural environment and local communities’ enjoyment of it, and support efforts to ensure that all freedom camping is done responsibly. The changes are subject to parliamentary and Cabinet processes, and are likely to be considered by a Select Committee in 2022. 

The changes are:

1. Require vehicle-based freedom campers to use a certified self-contained vehicle when they stay on council land. This is unless the council designates the site as suitable for non-self-contained vehicles.
2. Establish a regulated system for the certification and registration of self-contained vehicles.
3. Require vehicles to have a fixed toilet to be certified self-contained.
4. Strengthen the infringement system (for example, through increased fines and a 14 day notice period for infringements).
5. Extend the Freedom Camping Act to include land managed by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand.

Timeframes

The Government is seeking to introduce and pass legislation in 2022. Some of the new rules would come into place for the 2022/23 summer season, like the new rule requiring freedom camping in a vehicle on council land to be done in a certified self-contained vehicle, except at designated sites.

There will be a 2 year transition period before all self-contained vehicles will need to meet the new standards to be considered self-contained. Some types of vehicles will need to meet the standard earlier. These will include rental vehicles, or any vehicles certified after the regulations have been active for 6 months.

The full timeline is as follows:

Summer 2022/23

• Parliament amends the Freedom Camping Act 2011.
• Vehicle-based freedom camping on council land must now be done in a certified self-contained vehicle, unless at a site specifically designated by the local council for freedom camping in non-self-contained vehicles. Councils can designate sites as appropriate for non-self-contained vehicles through bylaws.
• Existing bylaws that designate areas as suitable for non-self-contained vehicles will continue to apply.
• The voluntary standard will still be used to demonstrate proof of self-containment, and blue warrant cards will still be issued.
• Only vehicles with a fixed toilet (not portable) will be able to be certified as self-contained from now but vehicles with a portable toilet already certified can still freedom camp.
• New freedom camping offences are introduced, and infringements can now be emailed.
• The payment period and reminder notice period is changed from 28 days to 14 days.
• Vehicle owners, including rental companies, are now responsible for the payment of any infringement notices issued to the vehicle they own.
• Councils can apply for transitional funding for this summer.
• The Freedom Camping Act 2011 can now be applied to land managed by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand.

Winter 2023

• The register of self-contained vehicles is operational and accessible to enforcement officers to verify whether a vehicle has been certified as self-contained. Certification authorities can start recording the details of certifications. The public can access the register of self-contained vehicles to see whether a vehicle has been certified as self-contained.
• Issuing authorities can apply to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board to become certification authorities, and start issuing green warrant cards.
• Certification can be done by either existing issuing authorities (using the voluntary standard and issuing blue warrant cards) or new certification authorities (using the technical requirements in Regulations and issuing green warrant cards).
• Vehicles can now be certified to the new requirements (green warrant cards), but vehicle owners can still choose to certify their vehicles with blue warrants if their vehicle has a fixed toilet. Blue warrant cards will still be evidence of self-containment.
• The new tiered infringement framework will be in place. Higher fines may be issued for non-compliance with freedom camping rules.
• Blue warrant cards will still be evidence of self-containment.

Summer 2023/24

• Vehicles can no longer be certified to the old voluntary standard with blue warrant cards. However, existing blue warrant cards are still evidence of self-containment.
• Only certification authorities will be able to certify vehicles. Only green warrant cards can be issued. Any self-containment vehicle certification or recertification must be to the new requirements.
• Councils can apply for transitional funding for this summer.

Winter 2024

• Rental vehicles used for freedom camping must now be certified with a green warrant card.
• Blue warrant cards on rental vehicles will no longer be evidence of self-containment.
• Existing blue warrant cards on other vehicles will still be evidence of self-containment.

Summer 2024/25

• All vehicles used for freedom camping must now be certified with a green warrant card.
• Blue warrant cards no longer meet the minimum requirements for demonstrating that a vehicle is self-contained.

Please note these timeframes are subject to Cabinet and Parliament processes – any deferrals to timeframes will be communicated on MBIE’s website.

For more information on how these changes might affect you, you can check the relevant fact sheet below.

Fact sheets

Below are fact sheets to help you to understand what the new freedom camping proposals will mean. Find the one that best describes your situation to see what to expect.

Please note that the information on the fact sheets is subject to change as the proposals go through the parliamentary process.

You can access the fact sheets here:

December 2021 webinars

4 webinars will be held over Zoom during December 2021 to help you to understand the intended changes to freedom camping in detail. You can register your interest to attend any of the webinars at the links below. Please note registrations for each webinar are capped at 500 attendees.

Details on the meetings and how to register are below.

Topic: Freedom camping final policy decisions

Date: 8 December 2021, 7pm

Register here(external link) — Zoom

Topic: Freedom camping final policy decisions

Date: 10 December 2021, 5:30pm

Register here(external link) — Zoom

Topic: Freedom camping final policy decisions

Date: 14 December 2021, 5:30pm

Register here(external link) — Zoom

Topic: Freedom camping final policy decisions

Date: 15 December 2021, 7pm

Register here(external link) — Zoom

Further material

If you would like more information about the consultation processes that took place in April and May 2021, including supporting material, you can find it here:

Supporting sustainable freedom camping

Please direct any questions to responsiblecamping@mbie.govt.nz.