10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Q’town makes us welcome This is the summer to visit Queenstown Miriam Richardson There are parking bylaws and nationwide reserve laws that continue to affect freedom camping in Queenstown this summer, but the years-long prohibitive bans are gone from Queenstown Lakes District. The national law requiring freedom campers to be validly certified as self-contained still applies. After a lengthy legal battle Queenstown’s freedom camping bylaw has been judged invalid. “In the latest decision Justice Osborne, in the High Court in Invercargill, has declared QLDC’s decision to adopt its 2021 bylaw was invalid due to the unlawful influence and consideration of irrelevant matters, namely the economic impact on commercial campgrounds and the effects on private property values/amenity.” (NZMCA) The law states that freedom camping is “permitted in any local authority area”, though bylaws can restrict or prohibit freedom camping, they can only do so for specific purposes at specific places in response to a problem. “11 (2) A local authority may make a bylaw under subsection (1) only if it is satisfied that— (a) the bylaw is necessary for 1 or more of the following purposes: (i) to protect the area: (ii) to protect the health and safety of people who may visit the area: (iii) to protect access to the area; and (b) the bylaw is the most appropriate and proportionate way of addressing the perceived problem in relation to that area; and (c) the bylaw is not inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.” Freedom Camping Act 2011, 11 Restricting freedom camping also has to be “proportionate” to the problem, and “the most appropriate way” to address the problem. And, “for the avoidance of doubt” the law says: “12 Bylaws must not absolutely prohibit freedom camping (1) A local authority may not make bylaws under section 11 that have the effect of prohibiting freedom camping in all the local authority areas in its district.” Freedom Camping Act 2011, 12 The council has not yet decided if it will appeal the decision. The decision means there are legal costs it will need to meet for the challenger, NZMCA, and more costs if it appeals and loses yet again. It is also unclear as yet if the council will be obliged to refund any fines imposed under their invalid bylaw. The council maintains it was a valid bylaw right up until the moment the High Court said it wasn’t valid. In spite of two legal battles about freedom camping, the QLDC Chief Executive Mike Theelen strangely, still, seems to be unacquainted with the law. He still seems to believe that a general ban with a very few exceptions is legally acceptable. In the council response (24/9/24) to the court ruling: he says: “The Freedom Camping Act permits freedom camping on some public land, unless restricted or prohibited by a bylaw.” [emphasis mine] Accessed 29/10/24 ckw.nz/queenstown-response the law says: “Freedom camping is permitted in any local authority area, unless it is restricted or prohibited…” [emphasis mine] Freedom Camping Act 2011 10 (1). If the council doesn’t take the time and effort to actually look at the law itself (rather than the bits that have been fought and lost in court), it may be heading for a new round of expensive legal battles. It has begun the process of creating a new bylaw for 2025, which cannot be done before the summer is over. So in the meantime, this is the summer to explore the Queenstown Lakes district without the worry of their bounty-hunter-enforcers. ◊ “We warmly welcome responsible campers to our district” says the Queenstown chief executive and here I am at one of their very few freedom camping spots, Red Bridge, 81km from Q’town, on a busy corner of SH8a. 81km! (Above, from Google Street View. Below through my windscreen.) A fine scenic view of road signs, with free road entertainment as the trucks grind up the hill from the sharp corner. Not what I would call a ‘warm welcome’. 81km! Images ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 14

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption No consistency. No fair control of freedom camping. Freedom camping news Bette Cosgrove Councils Many councils don’t have a bylaw, most can’t afford to enforce freedom camping laws or bylaws, and many can barely respond to complaints about freedom campers. Some have decided not to enforce the national law and have no local bylaw. Councils that DO have a bylaw are in the throes of revisiting them, as they must conform to the changed law by June next year! Whakamaru Queenstown, which had the strictest prohibitions on freedom campers in NZ and spent the most $$$ on enforcing them, now has no bylaw at all, since the High Court has declared their existing bylaw is invalid. Now they’ve got no income from fines and no more government funds to manage freedom camping, and a new bylaw to create, and might yet have to refund the fines imposed under their invalid bylaw. Ratepayers are pushing and scrambling to get councils to restrict freedom camping even more and there’s no more government / MBIE transition funding left to support local authorities to monitor their sites this summer. Vehicles Hire companies only have until Dec 7th to get the new green warrants for all their vehicles, an impossible task, given the slow and inadequate implementation of the new standards, and we are hearing their distress in the media as the deadline races towards them. The system set up by both the law and the Plumbers and Gas Fitters Board (PGDB) is not fit for the purpose of this transition period when so many vehicles require certification in a limited time. (Time will tell if it is fit for its ongoing purpose after the transition rush is over.) In the first 11 months only 6,000 green warrants have been issued overall (11/24), with so many commercial vehicles needing it and a conservative minimum of 75,000 vehicles (more likely 120,000) in NZ overall. The transition period, as people move from the old blue warrants to the new green warrants, is due to expire 6 June ’25. Minister Doocey has the power, and is considering a time extension for non-commercial camping vehicles. MBIE has consulted the public on whether or how much to extend the time (up to 2 years). (The law does not allow any time extension for hire companies.) NZMCA has over 120,000 members who get certification inspections for free. Those who wish to freedom camp (green warrant) need to pay only the government levy (there’s a different coloured warrant for those members who do not wish to freedom camp). Fixing toilets in campers Easy solutions and new affordable products are being invented in NZ to help campers permanently fix their toilets to their vehicles so they can pass the new laws and carry on camping. A vocal few, including some inspectors, are trashing some of these innovative ideas. Campers Domestic tourist freedom campers are getting angry.With 120,000 or more camping vehicles that is as many as 200,000 angry people. DOC and commercial campgrounds are nearly fully booked for the summer period in popular places, putting greater pressure on freedom camping sites. Freedom camping in Reefton, West Coast NZMCA has taken up leases on two public campgrounds in Northland. How (and whether) they manage these for the benefit of the camping public or just for the benefit of their members is a worry, particularly for those who do not camp in vehicles. NZMCA have an extensive portfolio of low-cost parks around the country for their members. Leasing exisiting parks is one way for them to extend into new areas, which becomes an issue if they disadvantage the non-member public campers, and non-vehicle campers. There are still a lot of upset regular freedom campers and permanent vehicle dwellers claiming homelessness in order to be exempt from the freedom camping law. No freedom camping laws or restrictions apply to the homeless who live in their vehicle. Overall No end to confusion and misinformation out there about what is lawful or required to be a freedom camper. No consistency. No fair control of freedom camping. It is going to be a crazy camping summer, I suspect. ◊ Reefton freedom camping, West Coast. ©2023 M Richardson Whakamaru, Waikato ©2023 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 10

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption About Camping the Kiwi Way Editor Camping the Kiwi Way Issue 1, Spring 2022 © 2022 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSN 2815-827X (Online) Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Order or subscribe Printed copies including postage: $38 for a year (4 issues) $12 for a single copy How to order or subscribe Read it online Subscribe for an email link to each issue: email the editor Advertising Find out about advertising in our magazine. Classified Ads Find out about our classified advertising 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 Nov 1 for the Summer issue Feb1 for the Autumn issue For late breaking articles talk to the editor. ______ Photo: ©2022 William Anna & Stewart Leslie with Adrienne camping 1958 Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 3

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Otaki-river. mouth. Fishing. ©2025 M Richardson Late summer fishing M Richardson Late summer fishing at the Ōtaki River Mouth free camp. February 2025. ©2025 M Richardson Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 15

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing on the lounge floor with all the windows open. Trying out my new quilt Tony Kissel Trying out my new Enlightened Equipment quilt. Slept in it last night on the lounge floor with all the windows open. I’m a ‘quiet’ sleeper and don’t move around much during the night so hopefully this will do the trick, no more sleeping bag zips to contend with. Lighter than a sleeping bag and compresses down much more than my old bag. ◊ ©2024 Tony Kissell Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 15

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption EVENTS — Festivals and Shows These events offer an opportunity for people to overnight while they attend. Some are restricted to certified self contained vehicles, some restrict or ban pets. Check the event website for details. september SI Endurance Race Series - Round 2 22–23 Sept, Friday: Invercargill teretonga.org.nz october Waiau pig hunting competition Labour Weekend (21–23 Oct). A fund raiser for the fire brigade. ckw.nz/waiau-pigs Hurunui Garden Festival 26–29 Oct: Hurunui. Intimate and whimsical, grand and formal: something to inspire every gardener. Gardens, workshops, events, tours, food. ckw.nz/hurunui-gardens RESTORE Rally 2023 : Bikes, trikes, all welcome 13– 15 Oct: Waiau ckw.nz/waiau-restore A rider event, open to all over 18 years. Live blade shearing; MoonDog plays his blues, a new young band to rock you. Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival 27 Oct–5 Nov: Taranaki taranakigardens.co.nz november Waiau fireworks 4 Nov. Fab night out with lots of fun, family entertainment, stalls. Pay with cash. ckw.nz/waiau-fireworks Nelson Motorhome & Caravan Show 11–12 Nov, Saturday: Tahunanui Beach Holiday Park, Nelson nelsonmotorhomeshow.co.nz Cross Hills Gardens Country Fair 18 Nov, Sat: Kimbolton crosshillsfair.co.nz Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival 2023 24–26 Nov, Fri: Masterton wings.org.nz Harvest Festival Hawkes Bay 25 Nov, Sat: Napier harvesthawkesbay.com 2024 Egmont Country Music Jan 2024 5–7 Jan: Taranaki on Facebook Marton Country Music Festival 19–21 Jan: Marton martonfestival.com Camp Fest 9–11 Feb: Bulls, Manawatu ckw.nz/campfest Warbirds Over Wanaka Mar 2024 29–31 Mar 2024, Wanaka warbirdsoverwanaka.com Waiau School trail ride 2024 6–7 April: Waiau. For competent riders of off-road motorcycles and ATVs. Breathtaking. Basic overnight camping. theride.co.nz Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 34

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Orange Sheep, Franz Josef Glacier. Stop and Stay so many to choose from STOP and STAY Stop and stay with your DOG Stop and Stay stopandstaynz.org North Island Valley Vista Eco Retreat Costs Kaiwaka, Northland valleyvista.co.nz An eco-friendly holiday park. Bush walks. Choose your camping spot or use one provided. Close to the popular beaches and cafes of Mangawhai and the iconic Bald Rock. Who: tents, campervans, cabins. Facilities: power, kitchen, toilets, showers, laundry, device charging, wifi. Activities: bush walks, explore the area. Waitui Reserve Free Whakamarama, Bay of Plenty On the Te Puna estuary, 15 mins from Tauranga. A beautiful community harbour reserve perfect for family. Dogs on leads. Max 3 nights. Who:  certified self-contained vehicles. Facilities: toilet, cold shower, jetty, boat ramp. Activities: swimming, fishing, boating, water sports. Rosie & Brian’s Low cost Reporoa, near Taupo rosiecrofskey@gmail.com A farm/market garden setting. Close to Butchers hot pool (free). Market produce available for purchase. Dogs on leads. Who: self contained tents, vans, campervans. Facilities: produce stall. BYO toilet. Activities: cycling, walking. Matawai Camp and Store Costs BOP to Gisbourne road, SH2. matawai-camp.business.site Halfway between Gisborne and Opotiki. Beautiful area with walks nearby. On the route of Nga Haerenga: Great Rides: Motu Trails. Vaccinated dogs on leads are welcome. Family friendly. Who: cyclists, tents, campervans, families. Facilities: toilets, showers, kitchen, power, café, free wifi, cabins, accessible. Activities: cycling, walks. Timona Park Free Feilding, Manawatu An urban park with sports fields, beside the Oroua River. An easy walk to town. Max 5 nights. Gates locked at dusk. Sports on Saturday. Dogs on leads. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: water, toilets, dump station, large vehicles. Activities: walking, cycling, fishing. Ferry Reserve Free Woodville, Wairarapa, ckw.nz/ferry-reserve At the eastern end of the Manawatu Gorge, wake up to bird song and the sound of the river. Fish the river. Walk the Manawatu Gorge. Max 3 nights. Dogs allowed. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: toilets; large vehicles, playground, family friendly. Activities: walking, cycling, fishing, swimming, other river sports. SOUTH ISLAND Old MacDonalds Holiday Park Costs Marahau, Tasman oldmacs.co.nz A farm and park by the Marahau River, beside the Abel Tasman National Park. Family friendly. APC discount. Who: tents, campervans, cabins. Facilities: toilets, showers, kitchen, laundry, power, secure parking, wifi, water taxi access, accessible. (No dump station). Activities: walking, tramping, cycling, swimming, fishing, local tours. Orange Sheep Campervan Park Costs Franz Josef, West Coast orangesheep.co.nz In the centre of town. In the rainforest and views to snow-capped mountains. The perfect base to explore the region. Pay for what you need. Some local discounts. Dogs allowed. Who: tent (on gravel), campervans, caravans. Facilities: toilet, shower, kitchen, laundry, water, dump station, wifi. Activities: day walks, cycling, tours, hot tubs, wildlife centre, DOC centre, restaurants. Kaikoura Peketa Holiday Park Costs Kaikoura kaikourapeketabeach.co.nz Mountain views and the beach at your doorstep. Wake to a magnificent sunrise and a day of adventure or relaxation. Campers can have their dog on a leads. Who: tents, campervans, caravans. Facilities: toilet, showers, laundry, kitchen, wifi, cabins, family friendly, accessible. Activities: swimming, walks, bike trails, surf-casting, mini-golf, flying fox, bmx, kayaking, whale watching, fishing charter. House of Hop Brewery and Restaurant Free Near Geraldine houseofhop.co.nz Motorhome parking area (hard stand) in a quiet rural setting. On-site restaurant and craft brewery. Dogs allowed. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: restaurant, brewery. Activities: dining, drinking, walking, cycling. CentralPac Orchard Costs Cromwell, Feb to Nov centralpac.co.nz Close to walking and cycle trails. Central to ski fields. Weekly rates. Only workers can stay during the cherry season. Family friendly. Dogs ok. Who: tents, campervans, vans. Facilities: toilets, showers, water, dump station, laundry, cabins, accessible. Activities: cycling, fishing, walking, skiing. Tui Base Camp Costs Tuatapere, Southland tuibasecamp.co.nz Southern Scenic Route. A base camp, close to mountains, ocean, river, lakes and the NZ great walk, Hump Ridge Track. Home of the World Famous Tuatapere Sausages. Family friendly, weekly rates, dog friendly. Who: tents, vans, campervans, backpackers. Facilities: toilet, showers, laundry, kitchen, power, spa, sauna, dump station, wifi, café, bar. Activities: mini golf, playground, bush walks, tramping, guided trips, jet boating, walking, cycling, fishing, swimming, other river sports. stopandstaynz.org Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 38

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing My day at the Ellesmere A&P Show Tony Knights My day at the Ellesmere A&P Show Don’t miss local A & P shows when you travel the country.above. See the gallery ©2024 Tony Knights Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 23

We get heaps of people message us and ask about the pros and cons of travelling full time so we thought we’d put pen to paper and share the highs and lows of full time travel with kids BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Pros and Cons of full time family travel Two Kids and a Caravan We get heaps of people message us and ask about the pros and cons of travelling full time so we thought we’d put pen to paper and share the highs and lows of full time travel with kids PROS : You get to spend a lot of time as a family CONS : You spend A LOT of time as a family Haha just kidding — sort of… Let’s start with the nitty gritty and look at the disadvantages Disadvantages of full time family travel Quality over quantity You really do spend a lot of time together and a lot more than “normal” so it’s easy to take that time for granted if everyone isn’t getting their own alone/1:1 time. Instead of looking forward to seeing each other at the end of the day, you’re in each other’s pockets all day and sometimes you can lose sight of the amazing opportunity you have to spend quality time together. It’s helpful to schedule alone time, couple time, family time and 1:1 time with the kids to make sure everyone’s cup is getting topped up. Team sports One thing we struggle with is the feeling that our kids “miss out” on being a part of a club/team and all the good things that come with that — despite popular belief it’s nothing to do with homeschooling and is a result of our transient lifestyle and not being in one place long enough to sign up for a term. When we are parked up for an extended time (e.g over winter) we always try to get the girls involved in some extra curricular activities. It gets dirty fast This one is both a pro and a con. You’ve really squeezed an entire house into 14m2 — it has a full kitchen, a bathroom, beds, windows, lounge, and since all your living happens in the same square inches, the mess is amplified — and fast. However, it’s equally fast to clean, there’s less surfaces to wipe and less floors to sweep, there’s just more crumbs on them. We always say it takes 5 minutes to mess it up but only 5 minutes to clean it up Lack of routine When your life isn’t prescribed for you (whether you have a job or business requiring you, or specific times to have kids ready and out of the house) it’s easy to dwindle the day away. A sleep in, a slow breakfast before deciding what to do for the day — we find we have some pretty “unproductive” seasons where we feel we should have done more with our time. Isn’t it interesting that the reason we started this journey was to get out of the busy, monotonous routine we were in, and now that we rule our own world we miss the routine? Mark finds it stressful when his life isn’t stressful enough. [Note from Kim: Do you know how stressful it is to experience a new supermarket layout every. single. time.] Maybe we just need to remind ourselves that rest is productive. Quality time is productive. Recovering from burnout is productive . Now for the best bits Freedom Freedom to travel, freedom from the shackles of everyday life and the freedom to be available and ABLE to take opportunities. All of our best experiences so far have been as a direct result of our ability to say “we’d love to” and having the flexibility to go on a whim, without the constraints of time and place. Healthier lifestyle We spend heaps of time out in nature and even all the extra chores like lugging water around, keep our bodies moving. On top of that, all the ridiculous new hobbies we take up, like hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and learning to sail as well as trying to buy produce at local farmers markets and side of the road stalls and we find ourselves living a generally healthier lifestyle overall. Lower cost of living We’re much more in control of our overheads and are able to lower them by travelling more slowly (reduced fuel costs), parking up in low cost spots (no rent), relying on solar for our electricity, catching fish (haha good one), and making the most of free entertainment (after the initial outlay costs of bikes/kayaks etc). This in turn allows us to work less if we want to, or decide (key word — decide) to do longer hours to save some funds for the next leg and/or park up at a campground with all the facilities. Living simply We’ve learnt first-hand the difference between what we think we need and what we actually need and while we live a pretty minimalist life in comparison to house life, we still never want for anything (if you know Kim, you’ll know she’s prepared for every situation, no matter how small). We’ve learnt to stretch food, conserve water, reduce rubbish, chase experiences not things, and ensure items in our caravan have multiple purposes. We’ve learnt to live simply and as a wise friend said “home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling” and we can take ourselves anywhere in the New Zealand and feel right at home. Making lifelong memories We’ve spent the last 937 days almost 24/7 as a family and wow have we had some experiences together. We’ve seen, experienced and achieved more in those days than we have in the rest of our lives and feel that if we died tomorrow we’d have few regrets as we’ve spent these years really LIVING. We’re creating lifelong memories with our kids which we hope will shape them in growing into adventurous, curious, resilient, resourceful and fulfilled adults. New connections We’ve met some amazing people along the journey that we never would have crossed paths with (or been in the right frame of mind or open to creating connections with), as well as over 1000 of you who follow along over our social media platforms and who we hope to meet some day. It’s a pretty special feeling to be able to travel anywhere in the country and have people to connect with and people we can’t wait to catch up with or meet. Having a kitchen and bathroom everywhere you go This one is a bit of a funny one but honestly, towing your home along behind you and being able to pull over to the side of the road and make a cup of tea or use the toilet, or come back from a hike or activity and jump in and whip up lunch is something we’re not sure we’ll ever be able to give up Obviously the positives well outweigh the negatives and our 2.5 year journey so far is testament to that. We don’t see this adventure ending for many more years. facebook.com/twokidsandacaravan Up Up Up We don’t see this adventure ending for many more years Click on the gallery for a full size view pros-cons-4-F.webp pros-cons-6.webp pros-cons-4-F.webp 1/5

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Game solution Word search solution Rhonda Marshall Download a pdf of the solution Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 46

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Chickpea salad ©2024 Margaret Earle Bonus tip: keep meat longer by vacuum packing Recipes for camping Margaret Earle Tinned chickpeas are a useful thing to keep in your caravan cupboard. As well as being tasty they are a good source of protein. Here’s a couple of recipes you could use them in. Chickpea and cucumber salad Serves 4 as a side salad This salad is very simple to make. My three-year-old granddaughter really likes it. Last time I was camping with her I didn’t have any fresh mint, but the salad was still tasty and refreshing. Ingredients 1 tin chickpeas half a cucumber, approximately ¼ cup plain yoghurt Salt Garlic (either fresh or from a jar) Fresh mint (chopped finely) Ground cumin seeds The quantities above are approximate. Add more or less depending on your preferences and the look of the salad. You can add other things too like diced capsicum. Method Drain chickpeas. Chop cucumber into thin slices or chunks about half a centimetre square. Mix yoghurt, garlic, salt, mint and cumin seeds and pour over chickpeas and cucumber. Eat straight away or store in a cool place until you eat it. Spiced chickpea and pumpkin tagine Serves 4 Ingredients 2 Tbsp oil 1–2 chopped onions 3 cloves of chopped garlic (or 2 tsp garlic from a jar) 600g of pumpkin cut into small cubes 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp turmeric 1 cinnamon stick ½ tsp chilli powder 1–2 chopped capsicums 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 2x 400g tins of chickpeas (drained) Zest and juice from ½ lemon 1 tsp honey Salt and pepper Method Fry onions and garlic in the oil for about 5 minutes. Add cubes of pumpkin. Stir in ground cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon stick and chilli powder and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Add chopped capsicum and tinned tomatoes. Bring to the boil then add chickpeas. Simmer gently for 15 minutes until all the flavours are blended. Before serving, add lemon zest and juice, honey, salt and pepper. Serve with rice. Dehydration instructions This recipe can be prepared in advance and dehydrated for a tramp or trip away. To do this: simmer the chickpea and pumpkin mixture gently until all fluid has evaporated. Finally add the lemon zest, juice, honey, salt and pepper and heat through. Spoon on the trays of the dehydrator. More detail on dehydrating meals can be found in Issue 6, Spring 2023, Camping the Kiwi Way . Keeping meat longer: vacuum pack One way to keep meat and other food longer is to vacuum pack them. The food still needs to be kept cool but it will last much longer (six to eight days). Sometimes you will see vacuum packed meats for sale in food stores and some supermarkets are happy to vacuum pack meat when you buy it. You can buy relatively inexpensive vacuum packing machines. They require electricity to run so you can’t use them in the wilderness but are useful when you prepare meals for tramping or when it will be difficult to buy fresh foods. You can also create your own ready-to-eat meals by vacuum packing home-made dehydrated meals. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 32

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Greymouth Star pinged Miriam Richardson The Westland District Council reported in January that in the peak season 17,000 freedom campers stayed each night on the West Coast (that’s 170,000 over 10 nights). They issued 47 infringements. Neither the Grey nor the Buller District Councils issued any. The Greymouth Star reports. So 169,953 good campers, 47 bad. Their title: “Freedom campers pinged”. A prime example of poor and emotive reporting. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 2