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  • fireplace

    11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Fireplace at Mangaweka. ©2025 M Richardson GO TO Here & there last summer Fireplace at Mangaweka M Richardson Fireplace at Mangaweka camp, riverside picnic area. ©2012 M Richardson Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 25

  • council-challenges

    9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Freedom van camping ©2024 Bette Cosgrove The new law allows freedom camping everywhere for self-contained vehicles and tents unless it is controlled by a bylaw. Challenges for local councils Bette Cosgrove The Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation 2023 / revised Freedom Camping Act 2011 presents significant challenges for councils across New Zealand as they strive to comply. The laws and regulations mandate that councils update pre-existing freedom camping bylaws by June 2025 to align with changes made to the national legislation. The previous definition of self-containment (using the old NZS5465:2001) is no longer usable in a bylaw. By default, the new law allows freedom camping everywhere for self-contained vehicles and tents. To control freedom camping, a council needs a bylaw and making a new bylaw (or significantly updating an old one), requires careful consideration and extensive public consultation. Councils that have no bylaw are very limited in what they can enforce. Councils must ensure that their regulations are not only compliant but also practical and enforceable. This requires a comprehensive understanding of the legislation, as well as the specific needs and contexts of their communities. The process is complex and time-consuming, often requiring legal and logistical expertise that may not be readily available at the local level. Local Government New Zealand supported councils with an updated model bylaw in January: ckw.nz/bylaw-guidance . Managing freedom camping sites poses another hurdle. The making of a bylaw Councils need to identify suitable locations that meet self-containment criteria or specifically allocate areas for non-self-contained vehicles, while balancing the needs of residents, local businesses, and the environment. This can lead to tensions within communities, particularly in popular tourist areas where the influx of freedom campers can strain local resources and infrastructure. Public consultation is critical in this process, yet it can be challenging to engage diverse community voices effectively. Councils must navigate differing opinions on freedom camping, ranging from support for tourism to concerns about environmental impacts and local amenity as well as considering the needs of local iwi. Camping restrictions can only be applied with good reason and evidence that there is a need to either: protect the environment, the local people or access to a public place. Funding and enforcement To facilitate bylaw updates, councils have accessed portions of a 2-year $10m transition fund from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The bulk of this fund was sourced from the International Visitors Levy (IVL) which has recently been increased from $35 to $100 per incoming person. Despite about 80% of freedom campers being domestic tourists, the provision of financial support for management of freedom camping was drawn from our international visitors. That hardly seems equitable. (The $1.9m fund given to the Plumbers, Drainlayers and Gasfitters Board to establish the vehicle self containment system was also sourced from the IVL.) The allocation and management of the contestable transition funding was limited to only those councils who applied. Funds were for education and the development of future freedom camping management strategies. Councils have used some of these funds for enforcement and patrols to monitor sites and in some cases collect fines for breaches of the law. Freedom van camping. ©2024 Bette Cosgrovwe As tourist numbers increase with an expectation of a busy summer ahead, we will likely see local governments who did not get a share of these funds, finding it increasingly difficult to enforce the self-containment of vehicles under the legislation. There will also be a rush to write and implement new bylaws. Currently just over half of all councils across Aotearoa have a current freedom camping bylaw. The transition funding has now come to an end, so it’s very unclear how councils will be able to afford to continue these monitoring/enforcement services. They will be asking ratepayers to fund this in future or hope it is self-funding via infringement collection. Fines are now a minimum of $400 but historically only a small percentage are paid. Have your say in your area, and the areas you visit It’s clear that local councils now face a multifaceted set of challenges as they work to either create, upgrade or enforce their bylaws to implement the revised Freedom Camping Act 2011. If you care about protection of freedom camping sites, or preserving your right to freedom camp in your local area, keep an eye out for community engagement and feedback requests. Many councils have already begun these processes and you can exercise your democratic right to have your say. ◼️ Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 26

  • recipes-pressure-cooker

    9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Spicy casserole ready to serve ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Beans in the pressure cooker ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Beans cooking in pressure cooker ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Modern stove top pressure cooker Product photo The New Zealand Pressure Cooker Cookbook My favourite recipes are adapted from Lisa Loveday’s book — The New Zealand Pressure Cooker Cookbook. © remains with the author publisher. Cooked risotto in pressure cooker ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Risotto ready to serve ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Risotto ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Spicy casserole ready to serve ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Spicy casserole plated ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie A few of my favourite recipes Making the most of your pressure cooker Margaret Earle When I left home one of the things my parents gave me was their old pressure cooker. I mostly used it to cook beans and pulses, as in those days you couldn’t buy tinned chickpeas or kidney beans. Sometimes I used it to cook corned beef or a stew. The pressure cooker was useful, but a pain because its seals didn’t work properly and it sometimes felt like there was a noisy time bomb on my stove. In recent years I have discovered the joy of electric pressure cookers. Mine is a combo slow cooker and pressure cooker. I’ve also discovered that you can cook much more than beans, corned beef and stew in a pressure cooker. If you have room for a pressure cooker when you are camping it provides a quick and efficient way to cook. Stove-top pressure cookers come in a range of sizes and if you have access to electricity then you can use a multifunction cooker that has a pressure cooker function. Here’s a few of my favourite recipes. They are adapted from Lisa Loveday’s book — The New Zealand Pressure Cooker Cookbook. ckw.nz/pressure-cooker Minestrone Soup This soup provides a hearty meal for up to 6 people . If you want to make a smaller quantity of soup, then reduce the quantities of each ingredient. Depending on your preferences and what you have available you can leave out or add ingredients. For instance, you can leave out the bacon if you want a vegetarian meal or add peas instead of green beans. Ingredients 1 Tbsp olive oil 150g streaky bacon, diced 2 large onions, peeled and diced 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 2 celery stalks, sliced 3 Tbsp tomato paste 2 carrots peeled and diced 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced 2 bay leaves A sprig each of fresh parsley, thyme and oregano, tied together with kitchen string (or a mix of dried herbs) 2 litres vegetable or chicken stock (or 4 tsp powered stock in 2 litres of water) 400g tin chickpeas, drained (or 2 cups cooked chickpeas) 400g tin cannellini beans, drained (or 2c cooked cannellini beans) ½ cup small pasta shapes (uncooked) 1 cup of green beans (fresh or frozen) 1 zucchini, diced Method ◗ Heat pressure cooker. Add oil and fry the bacon until browned. Add onion, garlic and celery. Cook until onion is starting to brown. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute . Add all ingredients, except any frozen vegetables, into the pressure cooker. ◗ Put lid on top of pressure cooker and set to high pressure. Bring the cooker up to pressure and maintain this pressure for 5 minutes . Remove from heat. Once the pressure has reduced naturally , open pressure cooker and discard the bundle of fresh herbs. ◗ If using frozen vegetables add these and put lid back on for 5 minutes . Reopen the pressure cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with fresh bread or toast. Mushroom Risotto Since getting an electric pressure cooker I have cooked all my risottos in it. The basic rule of thumb is one cup of arborio (or other risotto) rice to three cups of fluid. This makes a moist risotto that is ready to eat when the pressure cooking is completed. The recipe below serves 6 . Ingredients 2 Tbsp butter 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 300g mushrooms, sliced 2 cups arborio rice ½ tsp dried or fresh thyme 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock (or 2–3 tsps powered stock in 6cups of water) 250 g chopped chicken, ham or bacon 1 cup fresh or frozen peas ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp chopped parsley Method ◗ Heat pressure cooker. Add butter and fry onion and garlic until soft. Add sliced mushrooms. If using chicken or bacon add this as well and fry until the outside colour of the meat changes. Add rice and stir for 2 minutes . Add stock and ham (if using). Fresh peas can be added now but frozen peas are best added after the risotto has been cooked. ◗ Set pressure cooker to high and bring the cooker up to pressure. Maintain this pressure for 6 minutes . Remove from heat. Once the pressure has reduced naturally , open pressure cooker. ◗ If using frozen beans add these and put lid back on for 5 minutes . Reopen the pressure cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir through the Parmesan cheese and parsley before serving. Parmesan cheese, chopped tomato and/or sprouted mung beans can be sprinkled on the top of each serving. Spicy casserole with pork or chicken This recipe is based on the French dish known as cassoulet. It can be served with crusty bread or brown rice. It serves 6 and don’t worry if there are left-overs as these will make a tasty lunch or dinner the next day. Ingredients 1 Tbsp olive oil 350g chorizo or other spicy sausages, sliced 500g diced uncooked pork or chicken 150g streaky bacon, sliced 1 onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 celery stalks, sliced 1–2 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme) 1 bay leaf 1 sprig rosemary 400g tin chopped tomatoes in juice ½ cup stock or water 1 cup frozen green beans 400g tin cannellini beans (or 2c cooked beans) Method ◗ Heat pressure cooker. Add oil and brown sliced sausages. Remove sausages from cooker. Add diced meat and bacon and cook until outside changes colour. Remove meat from cooker. Add onion, garlic, celery and carrot and cook for 2–3 minutes . Stir in herbs, tinned tomato in juice and stock. Return sausages, meat and bacon to cooker. Do not add the beans at this stage. ◗ Set pressure cooker to high and bring the cooker up to pressure. Maintain this pressure for 15 minutes . Remove from heat. Once the pressure has reduced naturally, open the pressure cooker. ◗ Add frozen green beans and cannellini beans and put lid back on for 5 minutes . Reopen pressure cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprouted mung beans can be sprinkled on the top of each serving. ◼️ Images: ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie. Book cover: © remains with the author/publisher. Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 30

  • cracks

    11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The drivers windscreen on our old bus cracked. ©2025 Carolyn and Keith London The drivers windscreen on our old bus cracked. Not once — the cracks just kept coming. ©2025 Carolyn and Keith London The drivers windscreen on our old bus cracked. Not once — the cracks just kept coming. ©2025 Carolyn and Keith London The drivers windscreen on our old bus cracked. ©2025 Carolyn and Keith London It pays to try local first The cracks kept coming Carolyn and Keith London We had a week at Aniwhenua with friends again this Christmas. It wasn’t the best week as we had such bad weather — torrential rain then howling winds that destroyed 2 big dome gazebos. We cut our usual 2 weeks short and headed home. But the bad luck wasn’t over. The drivers windscreen on our old bus cracked. Not once — the cracks just kept coming. Keith had to slow right down to stop the window falling in on him — the rubber at the top of the window was coming out. After a few weeks of trying to find someone to fix it we finally found a local mobile glazier who even came on a public holiday. It pays to try local first . ©2025 Carolyn and Keith London Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 9

  • get-certified

    9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 NZ Lifestyle Camping We are support all types of campers. Getting your camping vehicle certified Gary Stoneley NZ’s independent national network for self-containment certification NZ Lifestyle Camping operates as an independent national network for self-containment certification to support the NZ vehicle camping industry. You do not need to be a member of a club or organisation to get your self-containment certification through NZLC but must have a vehicle that is fit for the purpose of habitation. NZ Lifestyle Camping’s network of more than 150 testing officers continues to offer self-containment in accordance with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers, self-containment regulations. We are committed to supporting all types of campers We also offer alternative certification (low cost option) for those who do not freedom camp or for staying at host properties and events. This is suitable for vehicles with portable toilets and tiny homes as evidence of self-containment. FYI: We do not recommend freedom camping while you await your final documentation and window card. Without these you are at risk being fined. NZLC Fees $63: Green (for ‘freedom camping’) warrant and certificate. ✚ Testing officers charge for their time. ✚ $120 government freedom camping levy. $48: Blue ( not for ‘freedom camping’) warrant and certificate. ✚ Testing officers charge for their time. $20: reissue of lost warrant card. Free: an email copy of a certificate. To find or arrange a self-containment check please contact a testing officer near you: nzlifestylecamping.com North Is: ckw.nz/cert-north South Is: ckw.nz/cert-south NZLC provides both blue and green self-containment warrant cards and documentation through our national network of testing officers. New blue warrant cards remain recognised throughout NZ but not for ‘freedom camping’ ( see p2 ). We wish everyone safe travels l We encourage you to ‘Leave no Trace’ when camping. Kind regards, Gary Stoneley, NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd 027 246 9778 4 For further information check our website NZ  LifestyleCamping.com ◼️ Choose from an independent national network of more than 150 self-containment testing officers ©2024 NZ Lifestyle Camping Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 39

  • bubbles

    11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Bedtime Bubbles & wash Bedtime Bubbles & wash in Kaiapoi for my wee mate after 57 nights on the road without a bath. ©2025 Andrew Morton Bedtime Bubbles Andrew Morton Bedtime Bubbles & wash in Kaiapoi for my wee mate after 57 nights on the road without a bath. ©2025 Andrew Morton Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 15

  • whitebaiting

    9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Whitebaiting. Rakaia River Mouth ©2024 David Liddel Whitebaiting. Rakaia River Mouth ©2024 David Liddel Whitebaiting David Liddall Whitebaiting. Rakaia River Mouth ©2024 David Liddel Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 16

  • tear-drop-biking

    3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Tear drop camping on a NI bike trip Andrew Morton Camping on a NI bike trip: the tear drop, tarp, comfy chairs, a table and a BBQ. (And, of course, the bike.) Andrew Morton Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 39

  • sh45

    10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption a new coddiwompling adventure SH45 The Surf Coast Highway, Te Ika a Maui North Island Exploring SH45 along the western side of Mount Taranaki was a new coddiwompling adventure for us. South Taranaki is a freedom-camping-friendly district, with many small towns along the way offering vehicle and tent options to free camp. So we were excited to spend a few days there and back on a visit to New Plymouth. ckw.nz/south-tara Our first stop on the way was Pātea, home of the iconic waka sculpture and the ‘Poi ē’ hit-makers, The Pātea Māori Club. Mana Bay, Pātea Freedom camping is possible at Mana Bay beach, including tents, at Seaview Lookout or the York Street picnic area. The church opshop here offered up some handy second-hand items for the van. After filling up with home-baked treats from the Lunch Shack at Hawera, we headed for nearby Waihi Reserve with sheltered spaces for tents and vehicles. The high sand cliffs are a natural wonder here and its a perfect place to join the Coastal Walkway at high tide. We then headed on to SH45 proper, with ever-changing views of the mountain always on our right shoulder. Opunake A highlight was the quirky surf town of Opunake, with multiple free camp options for both tents and self-contained vehicles. The headland site is spectacular if there’s no wind, otherwise, seek shelter at the alternative Lakeside Recreation Grounds, Hurst Park or Middleton Bay. Local shops and cafes welcomed us. A visit to Cape Egmont’s iconic lighthouse is well worth the detour at Pungarehu. And consider a right hand turn here to head towards the mountain to visit the historic settlement of Parihaka with its unique place in our nation’s history. The drive over ancient volcanic rubble beds is a very special roller-coaster ride heading north into Oakura and we took opportunities to take side roads to the coast to check out the surf breaks at top spots like the famous Stent Road on the wild west coast. Each stop added to the magic of this coastal adventure! n Photos ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Next: SH60 Images: ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 6

  • fix-soft-floor

    8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Fixing-H.webp Touch wood, I have now fixed the soft patch in my floor Fixing a soft floor on a UK Caravan Graham Leslie UK caravan floors sometimes get spongy or soft in high traffic areas due to delamination of the floor. A UK caravan floor like mine is made of about 30 to 40mm of foam sandwiched between two thin (about 4mm) layers of plywood. Touch wood, I have now fixed the soft patch in my floor, and I found the repair job relatively simple to carry out. ONE I started out by watching some YouTube videos to see what others had done and found this very useful. I recommend you watch lots of these videos to gain a consensus on the best technique. TWO I ordered a repair kit online that came with resin and wooden dowels. THREE After removing the caravan’s carpet mats I carefully cut the vinyl floor along the lines of the floor board wood pattern with a fresh sharp-bladed craft knife. This is made it easier to hide cuts when I put the vinyl back. In my caravan the vinyl is not glued down (I don’t know how common this is) so once cut, it was easy to lift up and peel back the vinyl from the area of spongy floor. When you cut out the vinyl for the area you want to treat, allow a border around your treatment area of at least 5cm. I also only cut out 3 sides of the square and carefully folded the vinyl back to make it easier to reinstate later. FOUR Next job was to drill holes in the floor. These are to pour resin in and plug with the 8mm wooden dowels. It is important not to drill right through the floor, so I set up a spacer on my drill to limit the depth. Calculating the floor thickness can be done by measuring through a ventilation hole or holes cut for wiring or heating, probably found under one of the bunks. The drilled holes are laid out in a 5cm by 5cm grid. Sweep up the sawdust after drilling the holes. FIVE Then it is case of filling and refilling the holes with resin until it stops running into the floor. On my floor I had rows of six holes, and I would fill a row several times, then fill the next row and then come back and refill the holes again and keep refilling them until the resin was overflowing the holes slightly and the resin stopped disappearing down the holes. Where the floor was particularly spongy it took a lot more resin and I repeatedly refilled the holes. Some disposable gloves are handy when it comes to this stage, and I recommend you mask the vinyl edges with masking tape to prevent getting resin on the vinyl. I tried cling wrap to protect the vinyl and it did not work. SIX Once you have filled a row of holes so that they don’t take any more resin push the dowels down into the holes like plugs. The repair kit came with 30mm-long dowels which pushed down flush with my holes. I ran out of the kit dowels and continued with some 40mm-long dowels I already had. These sat proud and had to be trimmed off later — not really a major problem. I found having something like a spatula or putty knife to push them down was handy. SEVEN I worked my way down the caravan floor towards the door. As the resin goes off it foams (like Gorilla® glue or polyurethane glue) up and around the dowels. Some of the YouTube videos recommended I put a flat board with weights on it over the floor while the resin went off to stop the floor bowing upwards. I could not see how I could do this without then also ending up with it glued to the floor. My floor still feels flat to me, so I don’t think in my case it was necessary. EIGHT We then left it alone for 48 hours. When we came back it had all set hard and we just needed to clean up the resin that was sitting proud. This was fairly easy with a multi tool to trim the bulk of oozed out resin and then a bit of sandpaper to finish things off. NINE We have laid the vinyl back down but have not glued it down yet in case we want to lift it again for other bits of floor. The joins along the side are invisible but there is a 1 or 2mm gap at the far end as if the vinyl has shrunk slightly long ways. I am not sure what is the best option to re-secure the vinyl. Two options spring to mind. a. Lay some sticky tape on the floor, sticky side up. Lay this tape under the edge of the vinyl still on the floor and then lay the raised vinyl back onto the other half of it and effectively join the bits of vinyl. b. Glue the vinyl back down with coloured silicon “no more gaps” type sealant. Wood coloured versions are available and will hopefully hide any damage or gaps in the vinyl. The repaired floor looks good at the moment, not secured, and now the carpet mats are back on top. However, I think it could get ratty if left unsecured long-term. All images ©2024 Graham Leslie Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 26

  • thornbury

    10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption popular with families and tents Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Heather Auckram If you are travelling along the Southern Scenic Coast then 10 minutes out of Riverton, turn off Highway 99 and follow the Thornbury Gropers Bush Road. A short drive along the road you will cross a bridge over the Aparima river and see Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve on both sides of the road. It is free to camp for up to 28 days. It has a new long-drop toilet, gravel at the top section, grass at the bottom section and is sheltered from the wind by large trees. Be warned the grassy area gets wet and muddy after rain and many a vehicle has been towed out by the local farmer. It is spacious enough to easily accommodate large vehicles. It is popular with families, tents and all vehicles both self-contained and not, but never so crowded that you won’t find a spot. Do keep your pets under control as it is surrounded by working farms. The Aparima River runs beside the camp. Swimming and fishing are allowed but not during times of heavy rain as it can flood over the paddocks quickly. ◊ Images ©2024 Heather Auckram Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 20

  • tangimoana

    2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption tangimoana_w_m.webp Another beautiful day at Tangimoana Gail Kupe Another beautiful day at Tangimoana. (Manawatu) ©2022 Gail Kupe Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 23

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