We are seeking input for the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2023 from our Community Boards and Committees.
The Freedom Camping Act 2011 (the Act) sets out the requirements to control where freedoom camping occurs and is permissive by default, which means its starting point is to allow freedom camping on all public land. The Act does recognise that some areas may not be suitable for freedom camping.
The Bylaw identifies areas where freedom camping is prohibited and restricted to manage how and where freedom camping can occur and what criteria is needed.
The Act states that councils can only prohibit or restrict freedom camping in an area if this is necessary to:
- protect the area e.g., to protect areas that are: environmentally sensitive/culturally sensitive.
- protect health and safety to keep freedom campers and other visitors to an area safe
- protect access to the area where the presence of freedom campers would block access or could damage infrastructure.
The Act also requires the Council:
- not to ban (or effectively ban) freedom camping on all the land we manage through our bylaw (blanket bans).
The current Bylaw allows for:
2 areas where non self contained freedom campers can can stay (Onewhero and Te Kauwhata domains).
24 Prohibited areas where freedom camping of any kind is not allowed.
2 Restricted areas that have specific criteria for freedom camping.
