15th January 2020 Freedom CampingLocal residents and iwi have expressed concerns to the Tasman District Council Council relating to pollution and health and safety at the Waitapu Bridge freedom camping site.
14th January 2020 DOC / Freedom CampingAs the hot weather ramps up, the Department of Conservation is urging people not to light fires in prohibited areas.
20th December 2019 Freedom CampingNew research from Massey University has revealed New Zealanders are divided over their feelings towards freedom campers, with growing concern among locals about the risks of over-tourism and the toll on the environment.
20th December 2019 Freedom CampingWaikato District Council has added staff in the form of responsible camping ambassadors to help manage freedom camping over the summer season, following extra funding from the government.
18th December 2019 Freedom CampingResponsible Camping Ambassadors are now across the Coromandel, as the district looks to combat the challenges of freedom camping.
16th December 2019 Freedom CampingWaitaki District Council has appointed two part-time Responsible Freedom Camping Ambassadors to patrol the Ōamaru area and the Ahuriri and Waitaki Valleys over summer.
4th December 2019 Freedom Camping / isiteRotorua’s i-SITEs are the first in the country to assign staff members as responsible camping ambassadors, says Destination Rotorua.
2nd December 2019 Freedom CampingMarlborough Council has deployed more rangers for the summer period in a bid to promote responsible camping.
2nd December 2019 Freedom Camping / TechA new app, AI solar-powered cameras, and a new zoning pilot will all be implemented this summer to help manage freedom camping.
14th November 2019 Freedom CampingThe marina car park in Gisborne is officially closed to freedom campers, following the Gisborne District Council’s decision of a temporary closure for the 2019/2020 season.
11th November 2019 Freedom Camping / LINZCampsites at Lake Dunstan in Central Otago will have additional toilets and increase rubbish removal in a bid to cope with the influx of campers expected this summer season.
11th October 2019 Freedom Camping / QLDCQueenstown Lakes District Council is proposing freedom camping be prohibited in new areas across the district in the wake of strong residential growth.
18th September 2019 Freedom CampingHurunui District Council has restricted freedom camping at a number of reserves to ensure facilities in the region can cope.
6th September 2019 Freedom CampingThe minister responds to operators’ top industry concern.
2nd September 2019 Freedom Camping / FundingNelson mayor Rachel Reese says the council will spend its $256k funding on its camping education programme, a temporary toilet and washroom hub, increased facilities for campers’ waste management, and a user survey.
2nd September 2019 Freedom Camping / FundingTechnology pilots providing improved information to freedom campers, as well education, enforcement and temporary camping facilities are all measures that will be funded this summer as efforts to support responsible camping continue.
23rd August 2019 Freedom CampingAuckland Council has moved to restrict freedom camping across the region with officials looking to see how the activity can be curtailed.
20th June 2019 Freedom CampingAuckland Council has deferred a decision on its proposed freedom camping bylaw.
17th May 2019 Freedom CampingThe government is doubling down on its freedom camping funding making a further $8m available for summer 2019/20.
8th February 2019 Freedom CampingAccommodation providers from across Westland have lined up to slam the council’s new freedom camping sites with some claiming they will soon be put out of business by them.
8th February 2019 Freedom CampingWestland mayor Bruce Smith says the district council is taking action to help ensure commercial operators do not suffer from free freedom camping sites.
10th December 2018 Campaigns / Freedom CampingThe domestic campaign encourages visitors to camp in the right places and use the facilities provided.
5th December 2018 Freedom CampingAuckland council’s proposed Freedom Camping in Vehicles ByLaw includes 422 sites across the region where freedom camping could be prohibited or restricted.
13th November 2018 Freedom CampingInvercargill is gearing up for the summer influx of freedom campers by launching a Responsible Camping Monitoring and Education Programme.
9th November 2018 Freedom CampingFreedom campers are to be banned from staying overnight at Akaroa in all but one area of the township.
31st October 2018 Freedom CampingThe introduction of measures to upgrade freedom camping facilities and management across popular Central Otago destinations continues apace ahead of summer, with Lake Dunstan in the spotlight.
29th October 2018 Freedom CampingThe council also wants to prohibit freedom camping in non-self contained vehicles across the entire district.
25th October 2018 Freedom CampingQueenstown Lakes District Council has just announced details of measures it will put in place to manage freedom camping in the popular but under-pressure region this summer.
23rd October 2018 Freedom CampingHundreds more campers in the Wakatipu could be catered for under a new council plan.
9th October 2018 Freedom CampingA Christchurch City Council hearings panel has recommended banning freedom camping in all but one area of Akaroa.
2nd October 2018 Freedom CampingCities at the opposite ends of the country are preparing for the summer tourism rush by putting in place measures to manage freedom camping – some more successfully than others.
13th September 2018 Freedom CampingMore than two-thirds of submissions have backed a proposed by-law that would effectively ban freedom camping from Akaroa.
17th August 2018 Freedom Camping / QLDCTwo new camping hubs, increased signage and personnel and education programmes and advertising are among the initiatives that Queenstown Lakes District Council plans to bring forward.
16th August 2018 Freedom Camping / TIFThe govt changes the criteria for access to the $100m TIF to take $8.5m for its freedom camping quick fixes.
16th August 2018 Freedom CampingThe opposition has slammed the govt for “kicking freedom camping decisions further down the road”.
15th August 2018 Freedom CampingThe money will fund recommendations made by the Responsible Camping Working Group.
25th July 2018 Freedom Camping / HPNZNZ First’s Fletcher Tabuteau says decisions will be taken with operators in mind.
23rd July 2018 Freedom CampingA new cross-district working group of land management agencies has been formed to tackle visitor pressure in the Mackenzie and Waitaki basins.
10th July 2018 Freedom CampingWaiheke Island has moved to ban freedom camping citing surging tourism and inadequate infrastructure.
9th July 2018 Freedom CampingChristchurch City Council is to consider a bylaw change to help address community concerns about the impact freedom campers are having on Akaroa.
3rd July 2018 Freedom CampingCamperMate has partnered with Wellington City Council and Sustainable Coastlines to pilot a donation scheme to help make freedom camping easier and more sustainable.
23rd April 2018 Freedom CampingNew Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom has called for a levy on inward flights to NZ to help pay for freedom camping facilities in the region.
20th April 2018 Freedom CampingMobile apps, adjustable bylaws and standardised signage were three tools to mitigate freedom camping issues put on the table at yesterday’s Local Government New Zealand symposium.
19th April 2018 Freedom CampingThe government has announced its nine-strong freedom camping working group as council leaders from around the country gather in Nelson for a second Local Government New Zealand symposium on the issue.
13th April 2018 Freedom CampingThe number of visitors who freedom camped in New Zealand has almost doubled since 2015 to reach 110,000 last year, according to MBIE.
15th March 2018 Freedom Camping / LGNZA working party led by local and central government on freedom camping is a positive step towards finding solutions for a complex problem, Local Government New Zealand.
9th March 2018 Freedom CampingThe government’s announcement of a new working group on freedom camping has been met by the launch of a private members bill from National that would put the party’s election campaign crackdown into law.
5th March 2018 Freedom CampingQueenstown Lakes District Council has received a significant amount of feedback in an online poll asking how freedom camping should be managed in the district.
19th February 2018 Freedom Camping / RTNZA few “bad apples” are giving freedom camping a bad name when most people are well behaved, says Regional Tourism New Zealand.
18th February 2018 Freedom CampingQLDC moved on Friday to reduce the impact freedom campers are having at several popular community spaces in Queenstown and Wanaka.
