Proposed Freedom Camping in Vehicles Bylaw
Consultation has concluded

Proposed new Freedom Camping in Vehicles Bylaw
THIS CONSULTATION IS CLOSED.
This consultation period closed on 5 December 2021. Thank you for having your say.
We received feedback from 1,617 people and organisations.
Key themes included:
- majority support for the use of general rules, in principle
- mixed support for the proposed general rules:
- 68 per cent support the self-containment rule
- 39 per cent support the maximum stay rule
- 28 per cent support the set departure time rule
- 40 per cent support the no-return period rule
- opposition to most of the 45 proposed prohibited areas
- opposition to most of the 22 proposed restricted areas
Read the feedback report for more details on the feedback given.
What happens next
Local Boards presented their views on the public feedback to the Bylaw Panel on Friday 22 April 2022. The Bylaw Panel considered all public feedback and local board views and deliberated on Friday 29 April and Monday 2 May 2022.
Next, the Bylaw Panel will report its recommendations to the Governing Body at its meeting on Thursday 23 June 2022.
You are welcome to attend and observe the governing body meeting, which is also live-streamed and can be accessed here.
You can read reports to the above proceedings:
- a copy of the report to the Bylaw Panel can be found here
- a copy of the report to the Governing Body will be made available on council’s website no later than Monday 20 June 2022 and can be found here.
Please note, there will not be an opportunity to speak at any of the above proceedings. All oral feedback was heard by the Bylaw Panel and staff at ‘Have Your Say’ events during the public consultation from 26 October until 5 December 2021.
What the bylaw does
Freedom camping is when someone stays overnight on public land.
The Freedom Camping Act 2011 gave people the right to freedom camp on most public land in New Zealand. This includes council-owned and managed land.
We want to ensure freedom campers camp responsibly and have a great experience while visiting Auckland. This means staying in suitable places, keeping themselves and others safe, looking after the environment and respecting their host communities and other campers.
Council can make a bylaw to set rules for freedom camping on the land we manage, but any areas where we want to prohibit or restrict it must meet the criteria set out in the Act. You can find out more in our Statement of Proposal or on our FAQs sidebar.
Our Freedom Camping in Vehicles Bylaw will set rules for freedom camping in a vehicle on most council land in Auckland to protect:
- areas that are environmentally or culturally sensitive
- the health and safety of freedom campers and other users of public space
- access for everyone to our public places, facilities, and amenities.
The Bylaw:
- identifies areas where freedom camping is prohibited
- identifies areas where freedom camping is restricted and sets the specific rules that apply in these areas
- sets general rules that apply in all other areas covered by the bylaw (including most roads).
Reserve land has been excluded from the scope of the proposed Bylaw. This means camping at Auckland’s reserves will continue to be managed under the Reserves Act 1977. The Reserves Act 1977 already prohibits all camping on reserves unless specific approval is given. You can find out more on our FAQs tab on the right side of the page.
What we asked for your feedback on
We asked for your feedback on an earlier version of this Bylaw, in 2018-19. After considering your feedback, the council decided to develop a new Bylaw proposal. From October 26 to December 5, we asked you to tell us what you think of this new Bylaw proposal.
We wanted your views on whether we have the balance right – between providing a safe and enjoyable experience for freedom campers visiting Auckland and protecting our environment, health and safety and access to public space for everyone.
You had your say on:
- the recommended package of general rules, or your preferred alternatives
- the proposed prohibited areas, where no freedom camping is allowed
- the proposed restricted areas, where freedom camping is allowed subject to specific rules (including feedback on those rules)
- any other bylaw clauses or matters covered by the Statement of Proposal