Understanding the Changes to the Freedom Camping ACT

Understanding the Changes to the Freedom Camping ACT

Portable toilets:

• If your vehicle is fitted with a portable toilet, you can still get a limited self-containment certificate to stay on private or commercial land, and at events, etc. This does not allow to stay on some local authority Freedom Camping areas. Please refer to the table below.
• New infringement fees and fines are enforceable from 13 July 2023. Read more here.

For the purposes of this general guide LINZ and some DoC land is included under term Council controlled land.

You're going to camp on/in	Blue Sticker, Permanent toilet, Before 07/06/2025*	Blue Sticker, Permanently fitted toilet, After 07/06/2025*	No Sticker	Green..Sticker	Blue Sticker with portable toilet (Not recognised under the Freedom Camping Act)
Council land ‘not excluded’ from freedom camping	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES
Designated Freedom Camping Areas designated for self-contained vehicles only	YES	NO	NO	YES	NO
Designated Freedom Camping Areas designated for NON self-contained vehicles	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Freedom Camping Areas that are NOT designated for NON self-contained vehicles	YES	NO	NO	YES	NO
Private, commercial or event land where evidence of self-containment is required, includes club properties	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES
Private, commercial or event land where NO evidence of self-containment is required, includes club properties.	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES

* Blue sticker will not be reconized for freedom camping for private vehicles on 07/06/2025 and commercial vehicles on 07/12/2024

The self-containment vehicle certification changes only apply to the Freedom Camping Act and vehicles camping 'FREE' on Local Authority Controlled land, LINZ land and some Department of Conservation Properties. The certification changes do not apply to private or commercial land, NZTA land not controlled by councils, park over properties, and private or public events or ANY paid camping.

• If your vehicle has a portable toilet you may still get a self-containment certificate for staying on land or properties not covered by the Freedom Camping Act. This is your choice. If this is required by you please contact one of the NZLC testing officers (visit NZLC website - link above) or NZMCA
• If you receive a new 'limited' self-containment certificate with a portable toilet the new law states you cannot stay on council controlled, LINZ or DOC land unless the area is designated for non self-contained vehicles including the permanent toilet requirement.

Please note that we are unaware of any councils enforcing the new law at this time.