Freedom Camping Act 2011

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Department of Conservation and Department of Internal Affairs

Version as at 28 October 2021

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Freedom Camping Act 2011

Public Act
 
2011 No 61
Date of assent
 
29 August 2011
Commencement
 
see section 2
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Department of Conservation and the Department of Internal Affairs.

Contents

1Title
2Commencement
Part 1
Preliminary provisions
3Outline of Act
4Interpretation
5Meaning of freedom camp
6Meaning of local authority area
7Meaning of conservation land
8Repeal of freedom camping restriction and prohibition signs provisions
9Repeal of transitional infringement offence provisions for local authority camping-related bylaws
Part 2
Where freedom camping permitted
Subpart 1—Freedom camping in local authority areas
10Where freedom camping permitted
11Freedom camping bylaws
12Bylaws must not absolutely prohibit freedom camping
13Review of bylaws
13ABylaw revocation postponed as result of outbreak of COVID-19 [Repealed]
14Application of Local Government Act 2002 to bylaws
Subpart 2—Freedom camping on conservation land
15Where freedom camping permitted
16Freedom camping restriction and prohibition signs [Repealed]
17Freedom camping notices
18Public notification of freedom camping notices
19Director-General to exercise powers as if Act specified in Schedule 1 of Conservation Act 1987
Part 3
Enforcement, miscellaneous, and transitional provisions
Subpart 1—Offences, defences, and penalties
20Offences
21Strict liability offences
22Defences to offences
23Penalties
24Offenders liable for cost of damage
Subpart 2—Proceedings
25How proceedings commenced
26Who proceedings may be commenced against
27Issue of infringement notices
28Reminder notices
29Rental service agreement may provide for payment of infringement fee
30Charging hirer for infringement fee
31Entitlement to infringement fees
Subpart 3—Enforcement officers
32Appointment of enforcement officers by local authorities
33Appointment of enforcement officers by Director-General
34Enforcement officers must produce evidence of appointment
35Enforcement officers may require certain information
36Enforcement officers may require certain persons to leave local authority area or conservation land
37Enforcement officers may seize and impound certain property
38Requirements relating to seizure and impoundment of boats, caravans, and motor vehicles
39Return of property seized and impounded
40Disposal of property seized and impounded
41Protection against claims resulting from seizing or impounding of property under section 37
Subpart 4—Miscellaneous matters
42Relationship of this Act with other enactments
43Regulations
44Orders in Council to specify track as Great Walks Track
45Evidence in proceedings
Subpart 5—Transitional provisions for current camping-related local authority bylaws
[Repealed]
46Purpose of this subpart [Repealed]
47Infringement offences for camping-related local authority bylaw provisions specified in Schedule 3 [Repealed]
48Infringement offences for camping-related local authority bylaw provisions specified in Schedule 4 [Repealed]
49Empowering legislation otherwise applies to bylaw provisions [Repealed]
50Descriptions of offences in Schedules 3 and 4 [Repealed]
Schedule 1
Great Walks Tracks
Schedule 2
Prescribed forms
Schedule 3
Bylaws breach of which deemed infringement offence
[Repealed]
Schedule 4
Bylaws breach of which deemed infringement offence if resolution passed
[Repealed]
Notes

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: