Changes to New Zealand freedom camping laws

The Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act is now law across the ditch which means freedom camping, or as we call it free camping, is only allowed if your vehicle is certified as self-contained.

Under the new legislation, vehicles without fixed toilets — those with portable toilets — will no longer be certified as ‘self-contained’.

They will be able to stay on Department of Conservation (DoC) land in vehicles that are not self-contained unless DoC has formally restricted or prohibited camping in such vehicles.

The measures are intended to curb abuse of freedom camping by domestic and international tourists and encourage greater respect for the environment and local communities.

Past offences reported by local authorities include parking on front lawns, disposal of human waste and fake ‘self-contained’ stickers on campervans. The maximum fine has been increased to $1000 per infringement, five times the current penalty.

According to the NZ Government, the tougher laws on the type of vehicles able to freedom camp would benefit other parts of the budget travel industry such as backpackers, hostels and campgrounds.

Previous low-cost solutions such as portable chemical toilets have allowed camper conversions to be certified as self-contained. A transition period will enable the existing self-containment certification requirements, known as a blue warrant, to be phased out and eventually replaced with the new requirements, known as a green warrant.

There will be $10 million in transitional funding over the next two years to support local councils to educate freedom campers in the new laws.

These rules have not changed:

• Camping in tents

• Camping in vehicles at commercial campsites

• Camping in vehicles on private land

Further information can be found on the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment website.