Have Your Say

Consultation is underway. We welcome your submissions between 6 June and 7 July.

Proposed Responsible Camping Bylaw 2025

Tasman District has always been a popular destination for camping holidays. Over the last decade, vehicle-based camping activity has increased dramatically, particularly in Motueka and Golden Bay

We are updating our approach to managing freedom camping in the Tasman District to reflect recent changes to the law and improve the experience for local communities and visitors.

Freedom camping brings many positives to our District, supports people’s right to enjoy outdoor experience and provides sustainable tourism practice. Freedom campers tend to stay longer than other visitors and explore more of the region, which can bring economic benefit to less-visited areas.

The increase in freedom/low cost campers has raised a range of concerns from some members of the community, including:

  • Effects on the environment.
  • Hygiene concerns.
  • Impacts on access to popular recreation sites.
  • Issues with freedom campers in residential areas.
  • Inconsiderate or antisocial behaviour.

The Council has the ability under the Freedom Camping Act 2011 (the Act) to develop specific rules for land it controls, through a bylaw in order to:

  • protect local areas,
  • protect access to public areas, and
  • protect the health and safety of people who may visit the area.

The Council believes the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2017 has worked well. We have carried out a review of the 2017 bylaw and need to incorporate recent legislative changes, so a range of improvements have been identified.

We want to continue to be welcoming hosts to people wishing to enjoy a unique Tasman experience, and we expect our visitors to respect the special places and communities as they pass through.

The proposed bylaw is now open for submissions.

Our Responsible Camping Bylaw updates how we manage responsible camping across the Tasman District by identifying areas where freedom camping is prohibited or restricted, and any restrictions that apply. It also enables us to enforce these rules.

The draft bylaw seeks to protect local areas, the health and safety of visitors, and access to public areas from negative impacts caused by freedom camping.

We’ve taken this opportunity to also make some improvements, like changing the freedom camping rules at Decks Reserve and providing freedom camping areas for self-contained vehicles at George Quay in Motueka and Wai-iti Domain south of Wakefield.

Bylaws cannot address issues other than camping, as defined by the Act. This means that the bylaw cannot cover staying at a camping ground, temporary or short-term parking of a motor vehicle, day trip excursions, resting or sleeping at the roadside to avoid fatigue, or people experiencing homelessness who may be living in a vehicle, a tent or a temporary structure.

The draft bylaw is attached to the Statement of Proposal and a summary of the key prohibitions and restrictions is provided below.

What we are proposing

Prohibited areas for freedom camping

  • Any reserve, park or sportsground, unless it is a restricted area or provided for in a Reserve Management Plan
  • Any of the 16 cemeteries in the District
  • Eight township areas: Patons Rock, Tākaka, Marahau, Split Apple Rock, Kaiteriteri and Stephens Bay, Riwaka, Motueka and Saint Arnaud
  • Four areas adjoining Department of Conservation land, where overnight camping is prohibited: McShane Road parking area at Wainui Bay, Abel Tasman Memorial walkway parking area, Riuwaka Resurgence parking area and Kerr Bay, Lake Rotoiti.
  • Pohara Recreation Reserve, Pukekoikoi Reserve, Te Maata Thorp Bush and Edward Baigent Scenic Reserve
  • Waterfront areas at Ligar Bay and Tata Beach
  • Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road and Sandy Bay- Marahau Road

General restrictions

  • The freedom camping must only take place in a vehicle as specified in the table below.
  • The maximum period of stay in any location is two consecutive nights on no more than two separate occasions in any calendar month.
  • Freedom camping in a certified self-contained vehicle is restricted to the signposted area. Space will be on a ‘first-in first-served’ basis.
  • Unless subject to area-specific restrictions, all vehicles being used for freedom camping must depart by 8am.
  • All vehicles being used for freedom camping must be legally parked and any possessions associated with freedom camping contained within a single, defined carparking space. If undefined, vehicles must park in a courteous manner to allow other vehicles to also park within the permitted area, with all possessions no more than one metre from the vehicle in any direction.
  • No person may light any fire while freedom camping in a local authority area except in a place specifically provided by the Council for that purpose, or with the prior written permission of Council.
  • All waste must be disposed of into an appropriate waste receptacle. The site must be left in a clean and tidy state.
  • All conditions on any signs in the local authority area must be complied with.
  • The motor vehicle must not prevent others from undertaking legitimate activities in the area and comply with the noise requirements set out in the operative Tasman Resource Management Plan.

Specific area restrictions

  • Motupipi Carpark, Tākaka: Self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (11 parking spaces)
  • Decks Reserve, Motueka: Self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (40 parking spaces). Overnight parking (6pm to 8am) only permitted on weeknights
  • George Quay, Motueka: Self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (12 parking spaces)
  • Motueka Beach Reserve: Self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (19 parking spaces). Non-self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (3 parking spaces)
  • Alexander Bluff Road Reserve: Self-contained vehicles and non-self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area (maximum 40 vehicles)
  • Fittal Street, Richmond: Self-contained vehicles and non-self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (12 parking spaces)
  • Wai-iti Recreation Reserve: Self-contained vehicles permitted within the available marked or signed area only (maximum 10 vehicles

Read more

Please refer to the following documents:

Freedom camping bylaws are created in accordance with the Freedom Camping Act 2011 and the Local Government Act 2002.

How to have your say

We want your feedback on the draft bylaw, to ensure that it meets the needs of the community.

We are also interested in specific views on:

  • Increasing the proposed restricted freedom camping at Decks Reserve in self-contained vehicles to also allow this on weekends (Saturday and Sunday nights) between 6pm and 6am.
  • The impact of freedom camping activity at Taupata Point gravel reserve, located on the coast between Pakawau and Puponga.

Please take time to get involved and have your say before 7 July 2025.

Submissions can be made:

  • online using this form.
  • by post to Tasman District Council, Private Bag 4, Richmond 7050
  • by email to haveyoursay@tasman.govt.nz
  • or delivered in person to Council offices.


    • Submissions should include contact details and state whether you wish to speak to the Council about your submission. All submissions will be considered before the final bylaw is adopted. The Council values your input and looks forward to your feedback.