15-05-2025
Low rate of freedom camping leads to bylaw being dropped
PHOTO: ALLIED PRESS FILES
There will be no targeted bylaw to control freedom camping in Central Otago after the council was told the number of complaints received did not warrant one and the problem was more perceived than actual.
A decision on whether or not to develop a freedom camping bylaw had been deferred by the council for two consecutive years, as elected members adopted a wait-and-see approach in response to new nationwide rules.
Now, the mayor and councillors have directed staff to consider a bylaw under the Reserves Act instead and work on this is expected in early 2026.
Council group manager of community experience David Scoones said the council also had other powers to deal to any problem camping behaviour, including the ability under the Freedom Camping Act to fine people stopping overnight not in self-contained vehicles.
Over two summers, staff had monitored complaints received related to freedom camping in the district.
Between November 2023 and March 2024, there were 15 related service requests and between November 2024 and March 2025, 13.
However, only a handful of them were related to the council's land.
In a report before the decision, staff said, "it is doubtful that the number of freedom camping issues encountered would meet the test to determine that a bylaw is the most appropriate way of addressing the perceived problem".
However, at the meeting Mr Scoones admitted Lake Dunstan, with a number of designated free overnight camping spots on its shores, had a reputation of being one of the "noisiest" lakes in New Zealand, according to Land Information New Zealand.
The council will need to return a $110,000 government grant from 2022, tagged for the development of a freedom camping bylaw.
