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  • steampunk-2021

    1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Steampunk 2021 Ray's Rest, Kaiaua, Firth of Thames The Maritime Museum in Paeroa Ray's Rest, Kaiaua, Firth of Thames The Maritime Museum in Paeroa Goldmine in Thames A fantastic time away STOP and STAY A Trifecta in Hauraki: The Maritime Museum, Rays Rest & Steampunk The Thames Gary Stoneley We always enjoy our trips to Thames and often stay at the Miranda Holiday Park for a day or two beforehand. This time, however, we spent the Monday night at The Maritime Museum at Paeroa and freedom camped at Ray’s Rest (Kaiaua) the next night. The Maritime Museum is just a few kilometres out of Paeroa, heading west and well worth a stop. Run by trustees and volunteers there has been a considerable amount of time and money put into developing the facilities. The museum is full of interesting memorabilia and volunteers have a wealth of knowledge on the early history of the district. The volunteers operate daily boat trips from the park and the trustees are developing the venue for summer concerts. This is most definitely one venue worth stopping at and for overnight camping, with on-site toilets and optional power available for a small charge. Traveling on from the museum to Rays Rest is an easy 35-minute drive and we arrived there just after midday. At the southern end of the Firth of Thames inlet, this area is rather exposed but a very picturesque location. The expansive views, sheer quantity and depth of deposited shells and variety of birdlife are serene and peaceful making it hard to leave. Just down from Ray’s rest is the Pūkorokoro Shorebird Centre at Miranda. This is another worthwhile stop if you are in the area, that also provides overnight accommodation. With the 2020 Steampunk event cancelled due to the pandemic, the event was rescheduled for the school holidays and the new ANZAC weekend. We made this a combined event between All Points Camping, the Bay of Plenty Caravan Club, and the South Auckland Caravan Club. Being in the first week of the school holidays we we able to camp at the Thames South School from Wednesday to Sunday. Over the 5 days, we had in excess of 35 groups join us for Steampunk fun. The Thames community went all out for the weekend events and the Saturday parade was, as always, a lot of fun. A final highlight for Bev and I on this trip was doing the tour of the Thames Goldmine which included going into the mine and seeing the amazing ‘stampers’’ and other machinery in operation. For us, it was a fantastic time away. There is something special about the history of the Thames and Coromandel area and still so much more to explore. BY: Gary Stoneley Photos: ©2022 Gary Stoneley, Miriam Richardson, The Maritime Musem, Steampunk the Thames and Thames Goldmine. 11–13 Nov 2022, Thames All Points Camping are hosting a camp for the weekend. RSVP Circuspunk 2022 Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 25

  • summer-23, bbq-permits

    No fire permit is needed for a charcoal BBQ in a restricted fire season if you meet certain safety requirements. No fire permit is needed for gas BBQs but here is how to do it safely. Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Do you need a permit for your BBQ? Up Fire and Emergency New Zealand Charcoal You don’t need a fire permit for a charcoal BBQ or grill in a restricted fire season if you meet the following safety requirements: ● You must have a suitable way to extinguish it within easy reach. ● Don’t use on an apartment balcony, deck, under a roof overhang or within other enclosed areas. ● You must have a suitable way to extinguish the fire within easy reach — a maximum of 5 metres away. ● You must not leave unsupervised while burning. Source: ckw.nz/charcoal-bbq-safety Gas You don’t need a fire permit for gas BBQs, cookers or heaters, but we recommend you: ● Check the fire danger and avoid lighting when the fire danger is Very High or Extreme. ● Regularly check and maintain any gas fittings and connections. ● Have a no-go zone to keep kids and pets safe. ● Have a suitable means to extinguish your fire within easy reach, a maximum of 5 metres away. ● Do not leave your fire unsupervised while burning.  n Source: ckw.nz/gas-bbq-safety © Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-ND) Photo: © 2011 Ben Sutherland CC2.0 Up Up bbq-charcoal-ben_mw.webp bbq-charcoal-ben_mw.webp 1/1

  • summer-23, lifepo4-safety

    Phosphate-based batteries, like lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, offer a superior chemical and mechanical structure that does not overheat to unsafe levels. Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up LiFePO4 are a safe choice for a motorhome or caravan Up Wayne Hunt Phosphate-based batteries, like lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, offer a superior chemical and mechanical structure that does not overheat to unsafe levels. When subjected to hazardous events, such as collision or short-circuiting, they won’t release flammable gases or catch fire. Wayne Hunt, Motorhome Solar . Read more Up Up motorhome-solar-logo-bg.webp motorhome-solar-logo-bg.webp 1/1

  • camping-culture

    3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption NZ is a camping culture Simon Raistrick This is one of the few countries with a sparse enough population to make freedom camping possible. For campers that makes NZ like a global heritage site. If we make our culture more and more environmentally disconnected, younger generations won't care as much about the environment. This essential part of environmentalism is often ignored in NZ yet it is built into the values of organisations like the English National Trust. I also have a degree in earth science. There are many ways to better manage camping which are not being used. Councils don't have the skills or knowledge to protect and support camping, and the pressure on councils to make things easier for themselves is constant. NZ is a camping culture This makes us who we are, connects us to our environment like nothing else and this hobby is constantly under threat. We should remember that and protect our culture and heritage. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 4

  • Issue 5, Freedom camping & self-containment status, spring 2023

    The short version BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Freedom camping & self-containment status, spring 2023 Miriam Richardson Read the detail page 18 ■ The rules on freedom camping on public land have changed, NZ-wide. ■ The PGDB* administers the new (green-warrant) self-containment, including authorities who manage the testing and issuing of certificates. In progress; goes ‘live’ 6/12/23. ■ New regulations for self-containment, including fixed toilets †, are now law; the regs are loose rather than prescriptive. ■ The PGDB* is in the process of providing guidance on how the new, loose regulations should actually be applied: due 7/12/23. ■ The old standard and the blue warrants are still valid. ■ New blue warrants can be issued, but their use is limited if the toilet is portable. *Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board † Wording in the law: “a toilet that is permanently fixed to the motor caravan or caravan, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions” Up Up Up Things have changed 1/1

  • stop-and-stay

    10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing more adventurous places where you will be cast on your own resources STOP and STAY Stop and Stay: City dwellers: 2nd camp: more adventurous Last issue we looked at some safe places to go for a first camp away from the city ( ckw.nz/first-camp ), this time we suggest more adventurous places, where you will be cast on your own resources more, but still less than 3hrs from home. You will need to pick a safe site (ground firm? branches that might fall? if there is a flood in the night? (more: ckw.nz/choosing-a-spot ) remember to bring everything you need (all the pegs and all the poles, the water) etc.) Not all of these allow dogs/pets. Here is a selection of dog friendly places: ckw.nz/dog-stop-stay or check out all our listings here: stopaandstay.org . More on camping with pets. Auckland campers Tuppence Parkover • DRIVE: 1:46hr Pirongia, Waikato • FEE: yes. • Must be self-contained. • Dogs on leads. Private POP, near the village. Base for walks in the forest park: extinct volcanoes, caves, dramatic gorges. Image ©Tuppence Parkover Horahora • DRIVE: 1:49hr Waikato • Free, max 2 nights. • Dog friendly. • Toilets. On the banks of the Waikato River. Swim, boat, fish, paddle board, row. ckw.nz/horahora Image: ©2023 Angela Bryan Uretiti Beach (DOC) • DRIVE: 1:52hr Northland • FEE: yes. Must book. • Toilets. Safe water. Hot showers. • No dogs, no fires. Walks. On the Te Araroa Trail. Swim at the patrolled beach. ckw.nz/doc-uretiti | More Image: ©2024 Roland Jones Parua Bay • DRIVE: 2:19hr Northland • Free, max 3 nights. • Toilets. SC not required. • Dogs OK. Beachside reserve with a boat ramp. Swim, fish, kayak etc. ckw.nz/parua-bay Image: ©Brendan Pol Hamilton campers Ray’s Rest • DRIVE: 1:14hr Firth of Thames • Free, max 2 nights. • Must be self-contained. • No dogs. • More Beside the sea, beside a bird sanctuary. Image: ©2024 M Richardson Ocean Haven Farm, Otaua, North Waikato • DRIVE: 1:21hr • FEE: yes. ckw.nz/ocean-haven • Pets ok on leads. North of the river mouth on the coast. byo water and, optionally, horse. Image ©Ocean Haven Farm Lake Whakamaru Reserve, Waikato • DRIVE: 1:26hr • Free. >2 nights you need a (free) permit. • Toilets, BBQ, boat ramp. • Dogs allowed. ckw.nz/whakamaru On the banks of the Waikato River, on the River Trails. Read more Image: ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Whakaipo Bay (DOC), Taupo • DRIVE: 2:03hr • Free. ckw.nz/doc-whakaipo • Must be self-contained. No tents. • No fires. • Dogs allowed, under control. On the shores of Lake Taupo. Bike tracks, walks. Read more Image: ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Wellington campers Kaitoke, Hutt Valley, Hutt Valley • DRIVE: 0:44hr • FEE: yes. ckw.nz/kaitoke • Fires allowed in some places. • Dogs ok, under control. Camp, swim, tramp, bike, kayak, raft, picnic. Image: © NZ Fun Adventures Morisons, Greytown, Wairarapa • DRIVE: 1:16hr • FEE: yes. ckw.nz/morisons-50yrs • No fires. Dogs on leads. • No-flush toilet. Under trees by the Ruamahanga River. Swim, fish, paddle board, kayak. Read. Image: ©Bette Cosgrove Totara Reserve, Pohangina, Manawatu • DRIVE: 2:16hr • FEE: yes. totarareserveregionalpark.co.nz • Un/powered sites. • No dogs. Native forest, walking tracks, swimming holes, adventure playground. Image: ©Totara Reserve Kai Iwi Campground, Whanganui • DRIVE: 2:36hr • FEE: yes; discount: APC & NZMCA. • No fires. Dogs on leads mostly. By the sea. Fish, walk, swim (summer patrol), playground. Family-friendly. Nearby: Bason Botanical Gardens & Westmere Lake wildlife reserve. kaiiwibeach.co.nz Image: ©2024 M Richardson Christchurch campers Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury • DRIVE: 1:02hr Inland scenic route • FEE: yes. rakaiagorgecamp.net • Water, toilets, kitchen-shelter; hot showers in summer. • Dogs on leads. Winter: open with honesty box. Beside the gorge bridge, looks out over the valley. DOC walk, jet boat, fish. ckw.nz/doc-rakaia Image: © Rakaia Gorge Campground Lake Pearson (DOC), Arthurs Pass • DRIVE: 1:34hr • FEE: yes. Must book. • No-flush toilets. SC not required. • No dogs, fires, or power boats. In the Craigieburn Forest Park. Tents OK. Swimming, walks, wildlife. ckw.nz/doc-lake-pearson Image: ©2024 M Richardson Peel Forest (DOC), Sth Canterbury • DRIVE: 1:47hr • FEE: yes. Must book. • No pets of any kind. No fires. • Showers, flush toilets, kitchen. Accessible facilities. Un/power sites. No internet or mobiles. ckw.nz/doc-peel-forest Image: ©DOC Lake Camp, HIgh Country, Mid Canterbury • DRIVE: 1:50hr • Free. Donation box. • No dogs. ckw.nz/lake-camp • No-flush toilet. Lord of the Rings country behind Mt Somers. Beautiful. More in issue 1 and issue 8 . Image ©2024 Linda Butler Dunedin campers Trotters Gorge Camp (DOC), North Otago • DRIVE: 1hr • FEE: yes. Must book. • No-flush toilet. • No fires. Dogs on leads. Camp in the bush. Geosite. River-sculpted caves, sea views, birds. Too wet for vehicles in winter. ckw.nz/doc-trotters ckw.nz/doc-trotters-tracks ckw.nz/geosite-trotters Image: © Whitestone Geopark. Slope Point, Catlins, Southland • DRIVE: 2:43hr • Free. • No-flush toilet. Roomy. An easy flat walk across private farmland to the point (no access during lambing, Sep–Nov). Image ©2024 Tony Knight Bendigo, Cromwell, Central Otago • DRIVE: 2:5hr • Free, max 3 nights. • Tents ok. Large vehicles. • Toilets, rubbish bins, boat ramp. • A LINZ campsite. ckw.nz/linz Swim, fish, kayak, paddle-board. Image: ©2024 M Richardson Lake Poaka (DOC), McKenzie Country • DRIVE: 3hr • Free, max 4 nights. • No-flush toilet. • Tents are ok; no need to be SC. • No dogs. No open fires. more ckw.nz/doc-poaka Image: ©2024 M Richardson ◊ Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 42

  • freezing

    9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson A bit of a learning curve It was freezing Miriam Richardson This winter was my first in the Otago cold— a bit of a learning curve. I looked enviously at people blithely heading to a snowy Mt Cook, or up to Omarama to experience the hoar frost ( “is it still there?” ) but I was too timid about the cold to venture. I knew that my water pipes were not insulated. I knew that frozen water pipes can split. I knew how to stop them splitting. That was pretty much all I knew. Here is what I learned. Fill the kettle so you have water for the morning when pipes are still frozen. Turn off the water pump, open a tap. This releases the pressure in the pipe and gives space for expansion as it freezes. Pipes don’t always defrost before the afternoon’s re-freeze begins. (Eeek!). Hoar frost can last for many days. Being plugged in to power fixes the lack of solar problem, but doesn’t fix the frozen pipes problem. You need a water container, with enough volume to last for several days of frozen pipes. Campground water pipes freeze too but the camp-ground kitchen will probably have running water. There are microclimates. The Bannockburn Campground where I stayed is in a very cold patch (pictured), while 8km away, Cromwell had clear skies. Moving gave me the chance to buy the missing water container (and decant the water from a bucket, wedged carefully and hopefully in my door-well), but I didn’t really need it once I had removed myself from the hoar-frosted valley. Thankfully the freeze was inconvenient rather than disastrous for me, and now I am no longer afraid to head into the colder places. I would (will!) get my water pipes lagged, and I quite fancy having a remote temperature gauge underneath, so I know just how cold it is under there for my water pipes. ◼️ Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 19

  • wonder-why

    10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing And people wonder why I like camping Tony Kissel And people wonder why I like camping.◊ ©2024 Tony Kissel Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 8

  • Camping the Kiwi Way, 3, Autumn 2023 | Camping the Kiwi Way

    Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Autumn2023-cover_H.jpg Camping the Kiwi Way, 3, Autumn 2023 Editor Table of contents • Editorial • For councils and government Come camping • Stop and Stay Contribute • About Cover image: Morisons Bush ©2022 Margaret Earle We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a puzzle, light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY Featured in this issue CAMP FEST Family friendly tramping A beautiful country but... Saving rural communities? RV businesses and services Camping the Kiwi WayMagazine Issue 3, Autumn 2023 ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSN 2815-827X (Online) © 2023 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz campingthekiwiway.org.nz Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Advertising editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz ckw.nz/advertising Classified Ads ckw.nz/classifieds Share your group in the next issue Contributions are invited from individuals and camping (or related) clubs. If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories.Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. • Your camping photos and stories. Your club stories and photos. Upcoming events that include camping. Opinion pieces on camping issues. Technical / helpful articles. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Contributions close • May 1 for the Winter issue For late-breaking articles talk to the editor. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 1

  • what-a-view

    10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption What a view to wake up to What a view to wake up to Dave Adamson What a view to wake up to this morning. National Park, Waiouru. ©2024 Dave Adamson Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 13

  • charly

    7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Hydraulic lift Charly means “free man” or “valiant” — giving wheelies the freedom to travel. ©2024 Milner Mobility NZ’s first wheelchair accessible campervan Designed and built by ACM Motorhomes on an IVECO cab and chassis. ©2024 Milner Mobility Accessible kitchen ©2024 Milner Mobility Travelling up front The No.1 condition was that the wheelie got to travel up front! ©2024 Milner Mobility Accessible kitchen ©2024 Milner Mobility Within reach ©2024 Milner Mobility NZ’s first wheelchair accessible campervan Designed and built by ACM Motorhomes on an IVECO cab and chassis. ©2024 Milner Mobility giving wheelies the freedom to travel Charly the campervan Milner Mobility New Zealand’s first wheelchair accessible campervan, CHARLY, will soon be available for hire. Launched in January by Milner Mobility it has been designed and built by ACM Motorhomes with the assistance of wheelies, on an IVECO cab and chassis. Charly means “free man” or “valiant” — giving wheelies the freedom to travel. The No.1 condition was that the wheelie got to travel up front! It has an accessible bathroom, can be driven with hand controls, and has an hydraulic lift. 60% of each rental is donated to its sponsors CatWalk and the NZ Spinal Trust . More: Milner Mobility Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 18

  • council-challenges

    9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS 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

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