Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Freedom Camping Act 2011

Where freedom camping permitted - Freedom camping in local authority areas

10A: Bylaws declaring NZTA land to be local authority area

You could also call this:

“Rules for camping on roads and highways in your area”

You can make rules about areas owned by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) in your local area. These rules can say that NZTA land is treated like local land for freedom camping.

To make these rules, you need to be sure of three things:

  1. The rules are needed to protect the area, keep people safe, or make sure people can get to the area.

  2. Making rules is the best way to fix the problem in that area.

  3. The rules don’t go against the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

Before you can make these rules, you must get permission in writing from the person in charge of the NZTA.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS854408.

Topics:
Housing and property > Land use
Government and voting > Local councils
Transport and travel > Driving
Previous

10: Where freedom camping in local authority area permitted, or

“Freedom camping rules on local authority land”

Next

11: Freedom camping bylaws, or

“Rules about where and how you can camp in different parts of New Zealand”

Part 2 Where freedom camping permitted
Freedom camping in local authority areas

10ABylaws declaring NZTA land to be local authority area

  1. A local authority may make bylaws declaring any area of NZTA land in its district or region to be a local authority area for the purposes of this Act.

  2. A local authority may make a bylaw under subsection (1) only if it is satisfied that—

  3. the bylaw is necessary for 1 or more of the following purposes:
    1. to protect the area:
      1. to protect the health and safety of people who may visit the area:
        1. to protect access to the area; and
        2. the bylaw is the most appropriate and proportionate way of addressing the perceived problem in relation to that area; and
          1. the bylaw is not inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

            1. A local authority must not make a bylaw under subsection (1) without the written consent of the chief executive of the NZTA.

            Notes
            • Section 10A: inserted, on , by section 10 of the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023 (2023 No 24).