Reserve Act bylaw to be drafted
The Central Otago District Council will develop a bylaw under the Reserves Act to keep our spaces and environment top notch, while also providing a means of enforcement for any unsavoury behaviour.
At the meeting today (Wednesday 30 April 2025), the Council discussed freedom camping enforcement options.
Instead of creating a Freedom Camping bylaw, the Council will develop a bylaw under the Reserves Act, which will be brought to Council and consulted on with the community, possibly in early 2026. This will provide flexibility for enforcement for both freedom camping and general reserve infringements and means there is still the option for Council to develop a Freedom Camping bylaw in the future if required. The Council will also review its Roading Bylaw to deal with infringements on roading reserves.
Complaints to Council about freedom camping have been relatively low over the past two years. Between November 2024 and March 2025 Council received 13 service requests. Four of these were Council related. Seven were Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) related, regarding the two designated non-self-contained camping sites around Lake Dunstan. The others were regarding Department of Conservation and New Zealand Motorhome and Caravan Association controlled land, and one was a general enquiry.
In his report to Council, Parks and Recreation Manager Gordon Bailey said it was doubtful that the number of freedom camping issues encountered on Council land would meet the Local Government Act ‘test’ to determine whether a Freedom Camping bylaw would be the most appropriate way of addressing the perceived problem, particularly when there were other regulatory and legislative measures available to Council to deal with the low levels of non-compliance experienced to date.
Whether or not a bylaw is made, Council still has enforcement powers and can issue infringements under the Freedom Camping Act. These include freedom camping on council land where it is not permitted, freedom camping on council land where it is permitted but not in a self-contained vehicle; failing to display a warrant card in the vehicle camping with more people in the vehicle than the warrant is certified for; interfering, damaging structures or fouling the area, or harming the fauna and flora.
Mr Bailey’s report states the main areas where camping issues might occur is Council-owned reserve land and Council-owned roads: It was identified that adopting a Reserves Act bylaw would have wider benefits other than controlling freedom camping on reserves; a bylaw can be used to ensure that vehicles such as boats, cars, caravans parked on reserves can be infringed if needed to ensure they comply with not parking on a reserve area. Additionally, dealing with such matters as encroachment of fences, parking and other matters would potentially be easier to resolve.
Regarding roads, the Council will be reviewing its Roading Bylaw in the near future and can include relevant clauses within that bylaw to deal with camping within road reserves.
