My Account
There must have been a huge sigh of relief around the table as Auckland Council’s Governing Body adopted the Freedom Camping in Vehicles Bylaw at its meeting on Thursday, June 23.
It was the second attempt to make a new bylaw – the process first began in 2017 and ended with a legal challenge two years later.
This time it’s been a lot smoother – the new draft was released last August and consulted on.
The purpose of the bylaw is to protect sensitive areas, public health and safety, and access from any issues caused by freedom camping. At the same time it must provide areas where responsible freedom camping can take place.
On the Hibiscus Coast, most freedom camping occurs on reserves – particularly by the beach – and while there are many responsible freedom campers, there have been significant issues for the public in some reserves, including rubbish left behind and anti-social behaviour.
The bylaw excludes freedom camping from all public reserves, relying on the fact that it is already prohibited there under the Reserves Act. In the past, this was often flouted. However, council now has more enforcement power, including the ability to issue fines – changes made to the Reserves Act in 2019 brought in $800 fines for breaches.
The practice is restricted to certified, self-contained vehicles, which can stay a maximum of two nights, must vacate by 9am and not return to the same spot within two weeks.
It opens up roads for freedom camping to ensure that there are options available as required under the overarching Freedom Camping Act.
Freedom camping is banned in just 45 areas of Auckland – locally it is only prohibited in Metro Park East in Millwater (which is not classified as a reserve).
Twenty two areas of Auckland have restrictions on freedom camping – this applies locally on The Hammerhead in Gulf Harbour, where the maximum number of campervans is 10 at any one time within a restricted area.
The key concern for the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board is enforcement – members suggested revenue from the $800 fines could go towards this. They also want the restrictions signposted. Currently the Governing Body is considering increasing investment in bylaw enforcement.
Council will publicly notify the decision and publish the bylaw when changes come into force on September 1.
