10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption a focus on convenience, affordability, and expertise From rugby to pets — How Covid19 started the tail wagging on HELPP VET Katie and David Barton-Ginger The rugby years… It was November 2019 and we decided to return to Wellington after nine wonderful years in Hawke’s Bay, this time with our SPCA-rescued, golden labrador Stanley and our daughter’s ‘Gisborne bred’, beautiful, dappled grey horse, Danny. We thought our past house moves had been complicated, but this one took the cake! During those Hawke’s Bay years David kept working in Wellington at the NZ Rugby Union as the Digital Manager, the commute made easily worthwhile for those beautiful semi-rural Jervoistown, HB days and a big, flat section for our two kids, compared to our previous hilly Wellington existence! Once back in Wellington, life as we knew it changed forever, like it did for absolutely everyone. Covid 19 slammed into Aotearoa New Zealand in March 2020 and with that, the NZRU cut half of its staff, including David. How did HELPP Vet begin? Stanley, our loyal HELPP Vet CTO = Chief Tasting Officer It’s well known that walking helps you to figure things out when you have a problem to solve. Our local beach, Lyall Bay, proved an ideas-rich place, full of reassurance in those tough and uncertain times, as we walked Stanley up and down each day searching for our next life-move. As the now ex-digital manager for the All Blacks, David had been constantly exposed to new and innovative tech ideas, and many of them he’d filed away as possibilities for a business of his own that he dreamed of creating one day. Now was the time, and with part of his NZRU role being to video interview All Blacks, current and former, he’d seen and used the ever-expanding possibilities of video and real time communication. In his spare time, he would consistently ask himself what services people everywhere needed, services that included problems to be solved. He always came back to two options — babies and pets. Our children had grown and we’ve always had pets so the answer was obvious. On a family holiday, driving around Nelson trying to brainstorm this service, we came up with the name of HELPP Vet — two Ps because of the platform we’d chosen, able to link person to person. Finally, after spending years in the fast-paced and ever-changing world of sports and technology, David had spotted a gap in the market for a tech-forward solution around pets and instant video advice. He wanted to combine his passion for problem-solving with a desire to help New Zealand’s pet owners provide the best care possible to their animals. HELPP Vet was born — a telehealth advice service designed to be responsive, compassionate, and convenient for all, with a community of verified vet professionals available at all hours. With a life-long passion for travel, over 40 countries visited between us, it was obvious that providing vet advice to travellers and explorers also had to be in the equation of our new business, and the HELPP Vet planning began. What is HELPP Vet? The idea for HELPP Vet started with a simple observation: pet owners in New Zealand, especially those on the move, need more flexible and immediate access to veterinary care. Whether you’re taking a road trip, camping by a remote lake, or simply living in a rural area without a local vet, getting professional advice when you need it can be a challenge. HELPP Vet is an easy-to-use and intuitive telehealth platform that connects pet owners with carefully selected and qualified veterinary professionals through video consultations. It’s available anytime, anywhere, for when you need immediate advice about your pet’s health or behaviour. There are vet professionals joining from countries other than New Zealand, so the plan is to have all hours of the day and night covered, plus there is traditional and holistic advice on offer for your pet’s health questions. The languages on offer are growing as well, which I wholeheartedly encourage, being a life-long learner of Spanish since my decades ago night classes at Havelock North High School! Our intention with HELPP Vet’s design is to remove worry about your pet’s health or questions you may have, perhaps due to being a distance from your regular veterinarian or it’s after hours and you can’t get to a vet clinic. Instead of worrying, all you need is an internet-enabled device and HELPP Vet. With just a few clicks, you can speak directly with a vet professional through a video call, receive expert advice, and even get recommendations for the next steps in your pet’s care. There will be notes taken of your advice session by the vet professional you speak with, which you can access to share with your regular vet. This service isn’t just about convenience — it’s about peace of mind and reassurance. HELPP Vet is here to support you in the time of your pet’s need, offering affordable consultations that fit within your lifestyle. Whether it’s a minor concern or an emergency situation, the community of HELPP Vet professionals is always ready to help, guiding you with the utmost care and expertise. Why we hope HELPP Vet stands out for you ■ Available most-anywhere We know that as Kiwis, we are adventurous by nature. HELPP Vet recognises that this country’s geography can make traditional veterinary care challenging to access in certain locations and you’ll often be a long distance from your regular vet. By providing a virtual platform, HELPP Vet ensures that pet care advice is never far away, no matter where you are. ■ Carefully chosen vet professionals We choose the vet professionals available to you through the HELPP Vet platform for their current veterinarian registrations, expertise, compassion, and dedication to animal welfare. Each vet has undergone thorough vetting (pun intended!) to ensure they meet HELPP Vet’s high standards. ■ Affordability We get it that veterinary care can sometimes be expensive, especially when it comes to emergency consultations or after-hours care. We’ve had our fair share of cat, dog and horse bills. HELPP Vet offers a cost-effective alternative (rates starting at $25 for a 10min call), allowing you as a pet owner to get timely advice without the hefty price tag. And because the service is pay-as-you-go, you only pay for what you need — we don’t ask you to pay expensive memberships or subscription fees. ■ Easy to Use One of our primary goals for HELPP Vet was to make the service as straightforward as possible for you. The platform is intuitive and designed with you, the pet owner in mind. All you need is an internet- enabled device, such as a smartphone and a few minutes to register. From there, it’s as easy as clicking a button to start a consultation. Your smartphone is ideal because you can then show your pet to the vet professional through your phone screen. ■ Peace of Mind for Pet Owners HELPP Vet isn’t just a service; we hope it’s also a companion for pet owners. Giving you immediate access to veterinary professionals means you can avoid the stress and anxiety that comes with wondering what’s wrong with your pet. Whether it’s a routine question about your dog’s diet or an urgent concern about your cat’s health, HELPP Vet is here to guide you through it and help you with next steps. How Does HELPP Vet Work? It’s as simple as 1-2-3: 1. Search for a vet: Even before you register you can browse the profiles of the vet professionals and choose one that suits your needs. Whether you’re looking for a general consultation or specialised advice, there’s someone ready to help. 2. Register: Sign up or login and enter your payment details. The process is quick and easy, and you’ll be guided through each step. 3. Connect: Start your video call with a vet professional and discuss your concerns. The vet will provide expert advice, suggest options, and offer next steps or a personalised plan if needed. Three and a half years later… Now we’re at the end of 2024, we can easily say that the last three and a half years have been a giant combo of tough, energising, laborious, expensive, exciting and overwhelming as David has worked night-owl hours with tech developers to bring HELPP Vet to life. A side note to all this: As a dedicated English language teacher since the 1990s and a confirmed logophile, I have always been the person teaching people to speak English and a fantastic part of this for me has been my exposure to all the wonderful mother tongue languages that these students bring with them. Now, it’s a strangely regular, but fantastic thing for me to overhear David speaking online in English with tech developers from all around the world whose first languages are Arabic, Czech, Mandarin, Spanish or Urdu! The enormous shift that HELPP Vet has brought into our household and lives has been phenomenal and we’re so excited to share it with you all. We know the veterinary industry is struggling because of a worldwide lack of vets and we really hope that our service helps to fill some of that gap. The HELPP Vet platform represents a significant tech shift in the way everyday Kiwis approach animal health, with a focus on convenience, affordability, and expertise in the equation of care. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, city dweller or a rural adventurer, or all three!, the HELPP Vet team (including Stanley CTO!) is there to support you and your pets, providing timely advice and peace of mind. For more information, send an email to katie@helpp.vet or to sign up, visit our website: helpp.vet We’d love to have you in our community of Kiwi pet owners giving HELPP Vet a go. ◊ helpp.vet | support@helpp.vet Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 27

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka M Richardson Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka. ©2024 M Richardson Another Glendhu Bay photo More on Glendhu Bay motorcamp Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 17

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Sign at a Kaokoura freedom camping space. Found on Facebook Sign at a Kaokoura freedom camping space. Found on Facebook Generral guidelines The Kaikoura Council website. Kaikoura Responsible Camping Bylaw enforcement The Kaikoura Council website. targeting smaller vehicles and poorer citizens Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West Miriam Richardson Why stick to the law if you can get away with whatever takes your fancy? In Kaikōura, the council states on their website that “Fines can be issued for” “not allowing an enforcement officer’s inspection” †. Kaikōura District Council, Responsible Camping Accessed 5/3/24 The Freedom Camping Act 2011 does not have an offence called “not allowing an enforcement officer’s inspection” ‡ and the council cannot make up a new offence and then impose a fine for it. The Freedom Camping Act 2011 requires that a warrant card is displayed which is the prima facie evidence that the vehicle is compliant. An enforcement officer has no legal power to search or inspect a vehicle for any reason . Even the police can only inspect a vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to believe it contains evidence of a crime punishable by a prison term of 14 years. The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, section 21 states very clearly “ Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search…* But, hey, this is the freedom camping Wild West. I wonder what appears on the documentation of the enforcement officers in Kaikōura? Every enforcement officer must show, when asked, evidence of their appointment, which must show “the responsibilities and powers that the person has under the Act” and “the infringement and other offences in relation to which the person is appointed” (Section 34 ‡ ). Has the Kaikōura District Council added to this documentation their new offence, the one not included in the Act, “not allowing an enforcement officer’s inspection”? Why are they doing this? The Kaikōura District Council has created a bylaw § with a variation on the definition of self-containment, such that inspecting the warrant and the self-containment certificate does not satisfy them † . Only by conducting an illegal search can the Kaikoura District Council enforcement officers ascertain if their bylaw variation on the concept of self-containment is satisfied. In NZ law, evidence gathered during an un-consented search cannot (or only rarely) be used. But in Kaikōura they believe they can use both what they find in an illegal search and a refusal to consent to an illegal search as evidence to fine people $400. Do the freedom campers consent to the search? It seems both the Council and the enforcement officer are asserting a legal power to search any freedom camper in their district. When the Council says ‘I will fine you if you don’t allow it,’ it is better described as ‘coercion’, rather than ‘consent.’ This likely makes all resulting fines illegal. Is the cost of a fine less than talking to a lawyer? Probably. The Council is targeting smaller vehicles and poorer citizens, those less able to access legal support, so they probably feel pretty comfortable that they will not be challenged in Court. Who polices the enforcers? If you keep your aim on just poor people: nobody. It’s the Wild West on the beautiful east coast of the South Island. † Kaikōura District Council, Responsible Camping Accessed 5/3/24 § Kaikōura Responsible Freedom Camping Bylaw 2019, amended Dec 2023 the PDF* Bill of Rights Act 1990 ‡ Freedom Camping Act 2011 Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 18

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption monowai-F-4-wide.webp Super safe for kids to splash in The lake is shallow and covered in soft moss, making it super safe for kids to splash in. The campsites themselves are spread out under the forest canopy directly beside the east shore of the lake. We admired the glistening of the water between the tree branches. Picnic tables A boat ramp, fire pits, picnic tables, long drop toilets, a walking track and a small dam are all just mere steps away. A half hour return walk We also really enjoyed the half hour return walking track beginning in the camping area. Walking amongst the shade of the trees, listening to the bird song, and admiring the native plants and fungi along the way to the panoramic Lake Monowai Lookout. Our son leads the way the track to the Lake Monowai Lookout was a very flat and family-friendly stroll, and was perfect for letting our son lead the way. The lookout The panoramic Lake Monowai Lookout Lake Monowai Fishing? A popular spot to fish for brown and rainbow trout The sun heated it right up Since there was so much shallow water, the sun heated it right up, making it comfortable for our toddler. He played in the water for hours Our little guy played in the water for hours while us parents got to sit back, relax and watch the boats float by all day. our most favourite freedom camping site yet Lake Monowai campsite Kayla Laatz, Mountain Mamas NZ Our small family of 3 set up camp in a quiet and secluded paradise in the heart of Fiordland National Park. We picked Fiordland because it offers so many opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, hunting and nature walks too. The best part though? This no-cost campsite is open to all non-self-contained campers, making it super accessible and affordable for us to visit. Not surprisingly, this spot fills up fast in the summer months. It’s first come first served to stay overnight here and there’s only enough room for about 10 groups of tent campers maximum. Campervans squeeze into a small gravel area that might fit 4 vehicles at most. The campsites themselves are spread out under the forest canopy directly beside the east shore of the lake. A boat ramp, fire pits, picnic tables, long drop toilets, a walking track and a small dam are all just mere steps away. Nearby signs let us know that this is a popular spot to fish for brown and rainbow trout too. Talk about having everything you need within close walking distance.From our tent site, a tiny path through the trees led us directly to the shore of Lake Monowai. It was shallow and covered in soft moss, making it super safe for kids to splash in. Since there was so much shallow water, the sun heated it right up, making it comfortable for our toddler. Our little guy played in the water for hours while us parents got to sit back, relax and watch the boats float by all day. A few kayakers too. We also really enjoyed the half hour return walking track beginning in the camping area ( front cover photo ). Walking amongst the shade of the trees, listening to the bird song, and admiring the native plants and fungi along the way to the panoramic Lake Monowai Lookout. It was a very flat and family-friendly stroll, and was perfect for letting our son lead the way. All weekend the forest provided the perfect shaded canopy to escape the heat, while still getting to enjoy the sun’s rays beaming off the water. As we cooked our food over the fire and ate our lunch at the picnic tables, we admired the glistening of the water between the tree branches. A soft breeze blew through just enough to keep us cool. At night the moon reflected brightly off the water and a nearby dam provided the faint sound of rushing water to fall asleep to. Stargazing was surreal here since there are no towns within at least a 90 minutes drive. That night, our whole whanau fell asleep to the peaceful sounds of the forest and awoke to a cotton candy sunrise reflecting off the water. It doesn’t get much better than that. In all of the South Island, this is our favourite freedom camping site yet. Next time we visit though, we’re bringing a lot more sandfly spray and making sure our food is locked far away from the possums! Lake Monowai Campsite (Fiordland National Park) Free campsite Non self-contained 2 Long drop toilets 1 Non-treated water tap Campfire rings + grills No dogs allowed Mountain Mamas NZ Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 11

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Day 1, Nelson Lakes Bikepacking the top half of the Rainbow + Sedgemere Track + bottom half of the Molesworth. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1, Rainbow Rd My favourite part of the Rainbow Road. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1, Riding a ford Teaching Miro the ramifications of being a half bike length back on ford. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1 Also loved the grasslands and views into the mountains. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1, Past the skifield turn-of Past the skifield turn-off, the fords became proper 4WD worthy. ©2024 Simon Kennett Still heading up the Wairau. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1, Hells Gate! Hells gate! ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1, Big country Miro's first time riding in such big country and she really nailed it. ©2024 Simon Kennett Night 1, Sedgemere sleepout Sedgemere sleepout -- big sky action, so some of us slept out of the sleepout. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 1, Elevation St Arnaud to Sedgemere sleepout. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 2, Sedgemere sleepout The gang... ready to see what Day 2 had in store. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 2, Sedgemere Track Sedgemere Track is only open for six weeks of the year... perhaps the hottest six weeks of the year. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 2, Sedgemere Track Mind you, I wouldn't want to be here during the coldest six weeks of the year. Super-exposed as well as 1000 msl - this place must be brutal in winter. ©2024 Simon Kennett Hunting the shade Even as early as 9:30am, we were hunting out shade for our first break. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 2, Brutal climb By mid-afternoon it was starting to bake. Luckily we found a nice spot for a dip in the river, soon after this brutal wee climb. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 2, Rock formations. More groovy rock formation in the Acheron valley. ©2024 Simon Kennett Into the wind After turning into the wind at the Acheron Accommodation House, we really were getting fan-baked. Mercifully some cloud cover formed half an hour later, and we were able to function normally again. ©2024 Simon Kennett Jollies Pass Jollies Pass was the most technical part of the trip, so naturally Kerei (on his gravel bike) blazed off the front. James (on his week-old MTB) rode at a sensible pace. ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 3 Elevation Sedgemere sleepout to Hanmer (via Molesworth and Jollies Pass). ©2024 Simon Kennett Day 3, Hanmer Capped the trip off with an excellent day of R+R in Hanmer with Kerei's family. So good! ©2024 Simon Kennett all it takes is a small, perfectly formed bikepacking trip A small, perfectly formed bikepacking trip Simon Kennett Haven’t done a huge amount of biking this summer, but sometimes all it takes is a small, perfectly formed bikepacking trip to rekindle the love. So it was, two weeks ago I set off with Miro, Bronnie, Claire, James and Kerei to do the top half of the Rainbow + Sedgemere Track + bottom half of the Molesworth. Photos ©2024 Simon Kennett Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 15

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The calm before the storm. Fortrose. ©2025 Heather Auckrum The calm before the storm. Fortrose. ©2025 Heather Auckrum The camp site. Getting ready to take the dogs for a windy walk. ©2025 Heather Auckrum Noel being blown along the beach. ©2025 Heather Auckrum The sandbar where the remains of an old shipwreck lie. ©2025 Heather Auckrum Heather and Loki watching the ducks. ©2025 Heather Auckrum The sun came out, the wind eased and everyone relaxed in hot summer sun. ©2025 Heather Auckrum all kinds of weather On the first day it rained and blew Heather Auckram The togs never saw the light of day at this weekend’s camp at Fortrose. The camp site. Getting ready to take the dogs for a windy walk. On the first day it rained and blew so hard the vans were shaking on their rims! Then the sun came out and the wind eased and it became so hot we put hats and sunglasses on — but still no togs appeared. Noel being blown along the beach. Heather and Loki watching the ducks. The sandbar where the remains of an old shipwreck lie. The sun came out, the wind eased and everyone relaxed in hot summer sun. Southland camping can be unpredictable, but we hardy campers love it in all kinds of weather! February. ©2025 Heather Auckram Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 9

This trip is the adventure I’ve dreamed of my whole life. Something different that will challenge me and possibly the closest I can get to Timbuktu for now, so I’m super excited. Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up NZers go everywhere to camp Up Cheryl Tyler “This trip is the adventure I’ve dreamed of my whole life. Something different that will challenge me and possibly the closest I can get to Timbuktu for now, so I’m super excited. Over the next 3 months I’ll be travelling from Dakar in Senegal, West Africa to Cape Town in South Africa on a motor scooter.” “Etosha National Park: the guard at the gate started his spiel with ‘there are lions around so stay in your vehicle…’ Then looks at us on our bikes and says ‘go that way and don’t stop until you get to the end’.” © 2023 Cheryl Tyler Up Up tiny-Cheryll-guinea_mw.webp tiny-Cheryll-trip-map_mw.webp tiny-cheryl-posed_mw.webp tiny-Cheryll-guinea_mw.webp 1/3

Coromandel , Hector’s dolphins, Kaimai tracks, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, The Heaphy Track, Pike29 Memorial Track , southern tracks, Hump Ridge Track Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up DOC update Up DOC Photo: Stingray Bay, Coromandel. © Piotr Zurek | Creative Commons Above image: Stingray Bay, Coromandel. © Piotr Zurek | Creative Commons Coromandel seaside campsites reopen for summer, but… …there are changes after Cyclone Gabrielle. Some have reduced capacity and some have reduced facilities. In an effort to reduce the stress on the gravel roads some sites have reduced capacity. Port Jackson down to 185 people (from 250), Fletcher Bay down to 200 (from 300), and Fantail Bay 60 people (previously 80). Booking is advised. Port Jackson and Fletcher Bay are now a “backcountry standard” instead of a “standard”. It seems they chose “backcountry” so they can charge a fee (the “basic” campsite with the same facilities (or lack thereof) is free). There are warnings: DOC recommend 4WD for the remote camps, making sure you have, and know how to change, your spare wheel. Carry spare fuel. Watch weather forecasts as weather may compromise the roads. Conserve water. Be aware of and obey fire bans. Carry everything you need: don’t assume you will have access to anything, including food, water, fuel or emergency supplies. ckw.nz/doc-coro | ckw.nz/doc-camps-fees Have you seen Hector’s dolphins in the Firth of Thames? Two Hector’s dolphins have been spotted in the Firth of Thames, prompting DOC to call on people to report more sightings of the animals. It’s just the third time in 60 years the species has been spotted here.  Image: Hector’s dolphin. Steve Smith | © DOC ckw.nz/doc-hectors Kaimai tracks Some Kaimai tracks are reopening, while others stay closed to protect the kauri from Kauri Disease. ckw.nz/doc-kaimai Karangahake Gorge, in Kaimai Mamuka Forest. Stefan Marks | Creative Commons Book in and protect the Tongariro Alpine Crossing Visitor numbers on the Crossing are putting consistent pressure on the conservation and cultural values of the area, as well as the infrastructure. Booking is not compulsory, but please do. Tongariro National Park has Dual World Heritage status for its cultural and natural heritage values. ckw.nz/doc-tongariro Image : Steep descent from Red Crater to Emerald Lakes on loose rock | © DOC The Heaphy Track has reopened Over 11,600 bednights have already been booked between October and June ‘24. ckw.nz/doc-heaphy Heaphy track. Jono | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Pike29 Memorial Track opening in February The Pike29 Memorial Track is opening on 17 February ‘24. The 11.6km dual mountain biking and walking track will connect the Paparoa Track Great Walk to the Pike River Valley. There is also an easy 15-minute walk from the Pike Valley carpark leading to twin bridges within the forest. The track rises 880m from the Pike River Valley floor to the Paparoa Range ridge line, making it a challenging walk or ride in a spectacular landscape, from alpine scrub through to luxuriant forest. As you walk it you are introduced to the story of what happened at the Pike River Mine. No dogs Carpark to Paparoa Track intersection, 11.6km, 3-5 hours. Once the memorial work is completed, vehicle access to the start of the track will be via Logburn Road (which leads into Pike Valley Road) off Atarau Road northeast of Blackball. ckw.nz/doc-pike29-about | ckw.nz/doc-pike29 Image: Pike29 Memorial Track near junction with Paparoa Track. Stewart Nimmo | © DOC Many Southern tracks open, but caution advised Tracks, bridges and huts have been affected by the Sept ’23 and Feb ’20 weather events. Where there are large washouts or bridges down, DOC has closed tracks until repairs or remediation can take place. Other tracks are still open but require extra caution. Always check the weather forecast, look at the DOC website or contact their nearest visitor centre for up-to-date information on track conditions. ckw.nz/doc-southern Image: A slip which caused a dam to form above Freeman Burn hut in Fiordland. | © DOC Hump Ridge Track upgrade to a Great Walk is delayed The track is already open and in use, managed by the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Charitable Trust. Bookings are still open during construction, with public access given priority ckw.nz/hump-ridge-book . The hope is to reach ‘Great Walk’ status in October ‘24. The Hump Ridge track is 61kms and takes about three days. It is an alpine environment with soaring limestone tors, uphill sections through coastal forests, expansive beaches, historic viaduct bridges, old timber settlements, and the longest tramway sleeper walk in the southern hemisphere.  ckw.nz/doc-hump-ridge Image: Southern rata in bloom at the Hump Ridge Track. | © DOC Up Up doc-coro-stingray-bay-hero_mw.webp doc-bridge-karangahake-gorge-1920_mw.webp doc-tac-summer-1920_mw.webp doc-coro-stingray-bay-hero_mw.webp 1/8

I think it was 1973 when I first went camping at Morison’s Bush. Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up 50 years of camping at Morison’s Bush Up Graham Leslie A lot of families have a special place they go to camp year after year, ours is Morison’s Bush. I think it was 1973 when I first went camping at Morison’s Bush, but I believe people were camping and picnicking there for many years before that. In some ways it is nothing special — just a grassy area under rugged old manuka trees in a big sweeping bend of the Ruamahanga River. It is between Greytown and Martinborough, at the very end of Glenmorven Road in the southern Wairarapa. But in other ways it is my family’s special happy place where we have camped together over the last 50 years. Mostly we’ve camped there for the long weekends in summer. View of Morisons Bush from the road in. 1973 My sisters Rhonda and Fiona cooking. 1998 Bringing inner tubes to camp after blowing them up at a local garage. 1970 & 80s In the 1970s we camped there as young teenagers with our parents. One time our father rigged a flying fox between the trees and set up a block and tackle swing to lift ourselves up into the trees to the flying fox. In 1986 when we were grown up, didn’t have much money, and almost no camping gear, we returned to Morison’s Bush for the New Year break. We brought our friends who at that time were solo mums with babies on their hips and a motley collection of other young adults. We arrived on several motor bikes, an almost-tidy Morris Minor and a very beat-up old Morris J4 van. Mrs Morison, the owner at the time, thought we looked a bit rough and warned us to behave. She didn’t realise it would be a very quiet camp with the need to get the babies to sleep and our relative poverty limiting our alcohol budget. We took the seats out of the vehicles to provide deck chairs. left 1988 Our old van with improvised awning and friend’s motorbike, next to the little caravan that was then Mum & Dads and has now been passed down, via us, to our son. right 1988 The old formica bench under the trees and the often explosive Anchor Kerosene pressure lantern in the near tree. Later we scored an old Formica bench top we set up on trestles for food preparation. We generally cooked on a campfire. Our tents were small. Later, one of the girls made us a toilet tent to go over a hole we dug for a toilet. Our favourite pastime was floating down the river on vehicle inner tubes. The best tyre was from a forestry log loader on which we could sit half a dozen people at a time. My parents and sisters also joined our weekends away, although they often liked to camp a bit separate from us. 1990s In the 1990s our children and their cousins were born and came to camp at Morison’s Bush as babies (our son was 5 days old for his first camp). With annual trips for Christmas, New Year, Anniversary and Waitangi weekends, Morison’s Bush became the place where we could reflect on how the kids had grown from last year. Slowly the camping gear increased with bits that were homemade or bought secondhand, and eventually caravans and campers were added to the mix. Being relatively close to Wellington, friends and their families often joined us for a day or days. As our children grew older, they invited their friends and eventually set up their own parallel camps. It was great when the young people did their own catering and we, the older generation, enjoyed nice food and drink amongst ourselves. 1993 Our baby daughter’s bath on her first trip to Morisons Bush. left 1995 Whanau set-up at camp. 1995 Christmas Day. above left 1995 Collecting driftwood for the fire was part of the routine then. No fires are allowed now. 2000s Now we are the grandparents, and we watch our grandchildren finding their feet at Morison’s Bush. The repeated visits over the years have marked the different stages of our lives. We have had multiple Christmases and birthdays and a wedding there. For us Morison’s Bush remains a special place and we hope to enjoy relaxing there for many more years. The land now belongs to Brian Tucker and he has been a good host and charges a small fee for camping. There is now a permanent fire ban, and unfortunately the Ruamahanga river is not so clean. A couple of long drop toilets have been installed. In the old days, almost everyone camped in tents but now there are more caravans and campers. You need to bring your own water and take away all rubbish. Pets are allowed but need to be kept under control. 2016 Still collecting firewood but the kids do the work. Still some green paint on the trailer. 2001 Christmas Dinner. above 2001 A hasty pack up as the river floods. 2007 A large dinning fly provides a good communal space. above 2011 Cards in the afternoon.   above 2016 Our niece’s wedding group shot. 2023 All Points Club camp, Waitangi weekend: returning for Waitangi 2024. right 2023 Grandad tries to have an afternoon nap All Points Camping is planning its second camp there from 2 to 6 February 2024 (p35); maybe I will see you there. n Up Up Click on the gallery for a full size view 1988 Bringing inner tubes back to camp atfer blowing them up at a local garage 1973 My sisters Rhonda and Fiona cooking sausages on the fire 2023 Allpoints Camp at Morisons Bush for Waitangi weekend and will return again for Waitangi Weekend. 1988 Bringing inner tubes back to camp atfer blowing them up at a local garage 1/32

4 Winter 2023 Winter 2023 ISSUE 4 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Editorial: The good news Miriam Richardson Up The really good news came from the Westland District Council in January this year. In their peak Christmas/New Year season, there were about 170,000 camper-nights in their region, and only 47 infringements issued (0.03%). Small towns can take heart, as they welcome freedom campers to their area. Most campers are able to contain their rubbish and all waste products for 3 days and are able to stay and leave no trace (cycle campers and some car campers will plan their route around public toilets). We use to call this ability to contain waste ‘self-containment’ but we need a new word now our parliament has decided a toilet screwed to the floor is a necessary part of ‘self-containment’. Keeping the focus on leaving no trace, ‘tiaki — care for New Zealand’, is the way forward for small towns, campers of all kinds, and for regional and district councils, as they consider how to welcome visitors to their areas. Self containment changes in brief This issue is kindly sponsored by the All Points Camping Club of NZ and NZ Lifestyle Camping . Up Up Until Jun 6 2023 we called the ability to contain your waste for 3 days ‘self-containment.’ 1/1 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption The power of freedom camping bylaws Bette Cosgrove Bylaws differ between regions of Aotearoa New Zealand, and do not exist in almost half of all council districts. Bylaws are created by local authorities — regional and district councils — to manage public land and facilities. Bylaws add to the current Freedom Camping Act 2011, which is the overarching national legislation. Bylaws used to restrict or prohibit freedom camping The Freedom Camping Act gives local authorities the right to manage and control freedom camping in their district. They can prohibit or restrict some areas, but they cannot apply a restriction across a whole region as the intent of the Freedom Camping Act is to make freedom camping a permissible activity. The Act allows authorities 3 reasons for making restrictions: in order to: protect an area; protect the health and safety of people who may visit an area ; or protect access to local authority areas. A bylaw also has to be the most ‘appropriate’ and ‘proportionate’ way of addressing the perceived problem and it must be consistent with the Bill of Rights Act which protects NZers rights and freedom to travel to public areas of our land. http://ckw.nz/bill-rights The Act allows bylaws to be enforceable, with a maximum fine of $200. Of the 68 district & regional councils which have bylaws? 38 have written and notified bylaws which can restrict or prohibit some areas of their public land from freedom campers staying overnight. 62 have allocated some freedom camping sites on public land. -- The other 6 have none, or only paid sites. 30 have no current bylaws, and generally allow freedom camping according to the Act. 31 have areas set aside for ‘non self contained’ freedom camping in a vehicle, but in many cases this means ‘not certified as self contained using the NZ Standard’. 50 councils have guidelines or bylaws restricting camping, -- 43 to ‘certified self contained’ vehicles -- 7 to a ‘self-contained’ vehicle.. 65 councils provide public toilets at campsites. -- 61 have toilets at every freedom camping site; -- 4 have some sites with and some without toilets. 3 councils do not offer freedom camp sites on their managed public land, contravening the Freedom Camping Act . Restricted areas Bylaws can state clearly that people may freedom camp in particular areas, but that there might be restrictions in place. Examples of some restrictions councils use: restricted to self-contained vehicles; restricted to a maximum of three consecutive nights in any four week period; restricted to designated carparks within a particular area; camping in a non-self-contained vehicle or a tent must occur within 100m of a public toilet. Self containment of vehicles as it may be used in bylaws If local authorities restrict freedom camping at a particular site to self-contained camping only, the following definition of self-contained vehicle may be useful: “Self-contained vehicle means a vehicle designed and built for the purpose of camping which has the capability of meeting the ablutionary and sanitary needs of occupants of that vehicle for a minimum of three days without requiring any external services or discharging any waste and complies with New Zealand Standard 5465:2001: Self Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans, as evidenced by the display of a current self-containment warrant issued under NZS 5465:2001.” From a model bylaw, Local Government NZ Note that “self-contained vehicle” is not defined in the Freedom Camping Act and that this is not the only example of how it may be definedThe NZ Standard 5465 is currently a voluntary standard for self-containment of caravans and campervans, which is not monitored by any government agency or written into any national legislation. You may download one free copy of the standard here: ckw.nz/standard . Compliance to the Standard is not mandatory, although it is not included in current legislation, it is used in some bylaws as a (legal) condition of restriction. The NZ Standard 5465 is included in the new bill before Parliament — the Motor Vehicle Self Containment Legislation — which has not yet passed into law. All information shared here is correct at time of publication, by researching all 68 councils’ published information about Freedom Camping Bylaws or Guidelines See also What’s in a name? If the law changes Waiting on a law change Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 28

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Freedom camp site ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Do your bit: Task of the week Bette Cosgrove Let ONE person in authority know you want to protect your right to freedom camp on public land. If you care about your rights to continue free camping, use all your democratic rights to contact, lobby, write to, or message the people who have to make this law actually work. Choose one. Write to your local media or meet a reporter and tell your story about summer freedom camping, the issues because of the new law, as well as the good times. Know your local council freedom camping bylaws — are they being changed and are they fair? Did they actually assess all restricted areas and fully consult about it? How did they actually spend any government grants for this work? Ask councils for camp sites . If there’s water, toilet and a rubbish bin for day use, why not let the space be used at night? Lobby for those not self-contained, or self-contained to the old standard, and for space for tent camping. Talk to your local MP — tell them how your rights are being eroded and how your family recreation is being lost. Write to Ministers of the Crown: Sport & Recreation, Hon Chris Bishop; Regulation, Hon David Seymour; Tourism, Hon Matt Doocey; Hunting and Fishing, Hon Todd McClay. The full list and contact details are here: ckw.nz/ministerial-list Explain how the new laws seem to be a “sledgehammer approach for a tack” issue and do nothing resolve the bad behaviour of anyone on public land who leaves their rubbish or waste behind. Tell them how it negatively affects YOU or your whānau who just want to enjoy your camping recreation and your country. Have your say with groups you belong to , who are fighting to resolve the unworkable new law. All Points Camping Club NZ, NZ Lifestyle Camping, NZMCA or other freedom camping or camping groups. Contact the groups tasked with implementing the new law: MBIE Responsible Camping Team, who created the regulations. website PGDB Plumbers Gasfitters Drainlayers Board self containment team who are struggling to deliver the new system. website Here is the actual legislation — Freedom Camping Act . Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) GO TO Celebrating Summer choose just one Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 16 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org