8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The laws and regulations only apply to freedom camping. Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how Bette Cosgrove and Miriam Richardson THE WHY The new regulations, brought in by the previous government and supported by the current one require all black waste tanks to be vented, including those tanks that are part of a cassette-type toilet. But: The NZMCA has declined to participate in the new green warrant self-containment system until this absurdity has been removed, and there are promises that a change is being prepared— as it is enshrined in the law, this is a slow process, that might eventuate by the end of 2024. For those who do not wish to freedom camp there is no need to address this issue at all. The laws and regulations only apply to freedom camping. THE WHAT The actual regulations: 20 Ventilation system specifications In order to meet the requirement for self-containment relating to a ventilation system in regulation 13(h) [“a ventilation system that removes odours from the motor vehicle and minimises the extent to which foul air and gases can enter the motor vehicle”], a motor vehicle must have a ventilation system that— (a) ensures unpleasant or unhealthy odours and foul air easily escape to the exterior of the motor vehicle; and (b) ventilates wastewater storage tanks directly to the exterior of the motor vehicle to ensure that foul air and noxious gases do not accumulate inside the tanks; and (c) includes vent outlets for wastewater storage tanks that— (i) are installed at a height that safely prevents wastewater leakage; and (ii) terminate outside the motor vehicle and away from doors, windows, or openings; and (iii) are fitted with a means to prevent the entry of birds and vermin into the system; and (d) includes pipes connecting sanitary appliances and sanitary fixtures to wastewater storage tanks that are fitted with a means of limiting the escape of foul air and noxious gases from the tanks to the interior of the motor vehicle, such as a water trap. Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers (Self-Contained Vehicles) Regulations 2023 Part 2, Inspection and certification of self-contained motor vehicles Read regs THE WHEN Anyone wanting a new, green warrant right now has to address this issue, including those developing a camping vehicle, or whose blue warrant has expired. (Note: There are other issues to be addressed for a green warrant, it is not just cassette venting, see What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping ) There is still time, for those whose blue self-containment warrant was obtained before 6 June 2024 . They can continue to freedom camp until 7 June 2025, when the transition period ends and the law requires (only) a green warrant. If you can wait. it is possible this requirement and the associated expenses will be removed. THE HOW It is a changing playing field at present. There are three methods available at present: Purpose-designed SOG system. Ventilate the cassette locker (some cassettes). DIY ventilate the cassette. Problems with doing it: A hole is needed in the vehicle envelope, with dangers around warranty, water ingress, rust and vermin. The vent outlet must be “away from doors, windows, or openings”, but “away from” is not defined. Removing smell from the inside to the outside might not be in favour with nearby campers. With vague requirements, some inspectors might approve what others do not, which might lead to problems downstream for re-certifiying or selling. SOG system Those with Dometic or Thetford cassette toilets can install the SOG system ( ckw.nz/sog ). This is a commercial product specifically designed to ventilate these particular cassette toilets. The regulations make the vent outlet position a potential issue, but this system will not otherwise pose any problems to certifiers, nor for resale. The main limitation of this system is cost. Ventilate the cassette locker A May ’24 email from NZSC, Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB), reported on Facebook ( ckw.nz/pgdb-letter ), has stated that if the cassette has an auto-vent into a sealed locker, the locker can be ventilated instead of the cassette itself. This change, PGDB write, “would meet the functional requirement of Regulation 20(b) despite not strictly meeting the wording of that regulation.” This interpretation is not yet reflected in the PGDB documentation, and some inspectors may refuse to certify vehicles with the cassette ventilated in this way. Ventilate the cassette Consider the location of the vent, the size of the pipe, preventing back flow or leakage, disconnecting for emptying without spills. PGDB have recommended but do not require a particular pipe size for ventilation. You can create a DIY vent pipe and add this to the cap (picture 1) or air vent inlet area of the cassette (there’s some people selling DIY kits already), or to the cassette body (see picture 2 & 3). Ensure you manage non-return, prevent overflows or spills and meet the height requirements of the pipes etc. Picture 1: BedVanz venting solution. The pipe rises above the level of the highest water level in the loo, and then goes down through the floor. When emptying, the hose can be detached and a cap (pictured) put in its place so that it can be carried without spilling. ©2024 BedVanz Ltd, bedvanz.co.nz Picture 2 & 3: Irrigation plumbing used to provide venting from a cassette.These tiny tubes have flexibility and make less impact on the vehicle envelope, and could be easily removed and the holes repaired if/when regulations change. ©2024 NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd For advice and support, join this Facebook group: Self Containment New Zealand Conversion and Advisement ckw.nz/sc-con-adv Freedom camping & self-containment 2 Where are we at with self-containment and freedom camping? 2 Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? 4 Getting your camping vehicle certified 8 Am I freedom camping? 8 What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping 10 Planning a toilet for the freedom camping green warrant? 12 Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how 14 Keeping up with the self-containment changes 16 Composting and coddiwompling ︎ Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 12

Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Word search solution Up Up Up 1/0

1 Spring 2022 Time to have your say on the “Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill” Up Wayne Ravelich This bill is in the name of Tourism Minister, Stewart Nash’s proposals on freedom camping and certified self-containment. This Bill has had its first reading in parliament and is now with the select committee to fine tune before going back to parliament for a second reading. The select committee has called for public submissions on the bill. This is our chance to have our thoughts and feelings heard. The bill is an omnibus that amends more than one Act. If passed in its current format the bill will affect the Freedom Camping Act, the Self-contained motor vehicle standard along with NZTA-Waka Kotahi and LINZ land, and how local bodies administer the legislation. This legislation will affect ALL campers and the camping industry in New Zealand for many years to come. The proposed exclusion of portable toilets from the Standard is only one step that affects thousands of responsible campers. We will all be affected on where and how we can camp. We will also carry huge extra administrative costs because of these regulations. Have your voice heard by making a submission. Try and be concise/ to the point, mention how it will affect you and your family. Will the increased cost of self-containment restrict your ability to go camping with friends and family? Tell them what you like and dislike about the bill. Here is the public submissions page. ckw.nz/have-your-say . The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 13 October 2022. Happy camping Wayne Raveich President, All Points Camping Club of NZ Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS Our chance to have our thoughts and feelings heard 1/0

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption CampFest ©2025 Jo Ward ©2025 Andrew Morton Fog in Morrinsville. ©2025 Maggie O'Rouke The calm before the storm. Fortrose Fortrose, ©2025 Heather The camp site. Fortrose, ©2025 Heather Noel being blown along the beach. Fortrose, ©2025 Heather Heather and Loki watching the ducks. Fortrose, ©2025 Heather The sandbar Fortrose, ©2025 Heather The sun came out, the wind eased and everyone relaxed in hot summer sun. Getting ready to take the dogs for a windy walk. Fortrose, ©2025 Heather Caravan train, Kekerengu. ©2025 Linda Butler Lowburn I pulled into Lowburn free camp on the shores of Lake Dunstan and found a shady spot to park. © 2025 Heather Auckram Loki the dog in the shade. © 2025 Heather Auckram Loki dog and I took a welcome plunge in the lake before settling in for the night. © 2025 Heather Auckram St Kilda, Dunedin. A lovely spot looking out over the beach towards St Clair. Dunedin allows freedom camping in non-reserve parking places. ©2022 M Richardson Fishing at the Otaki River mouth. ©2025 M RIchardson summ-night-1_edited.jpg Nugget Point lighthouse. Here is a photo of the Nugget Point lighthouse. As we saw it today. March 6. ©2025 Dave Adamson The Pigroot, SH85, runs from Palmerston on the coast via Ranfurly to Alexandra in Central Otago. ©2025 Heather Auckam St Bathans. Parked at the free camp at the domain under a shady tree with a hot 32degree breeze blowing through the van. ©2025 Heather Auckam Loki dog enjoyed poking his nose into rabbit holes on the rugby field with the quirky goal posts. ©2025 Heather Auckam Loki dog enjoyed poking his nose into rabbit holes on the rugby field with the quirky goal posts. ©2025 Heather Auckam Otaki River mouth ©2025 M RIchardson Sailing through the Waiheke Channel on our way to the northern coast of Waiheke. The wind has finally turned to the south. Feb. ©2025 Graham Leslie Ray's lesson Waihora, New Year: Ray gave us a lesson on his new water bladder and water pump, which runs off his cordless drill. Interesting and tempting to purchase! ©2025 Linda Butler. Waihora. Canterbury, Waihora ©2025 Tony Knights Here and there last summer Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 5

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Kina Beach and campground Kina Beach ©2024 Miriam Richardson Kina Beach ©2024 Miriam Richardson McKee's Reserve ©2024 Miriam Richardson McKees Reserve ©2024 Miriam Richardson Timing lights on the Takaka Hill ©2024 Miriam Richardson Limestone on the Takaka Hill Hawke's. ©2024 Miriam Richardson Takaka. Watercolour. ©2024 David Liddall Labyrinth Rocks ©2024 Miriam Richardson Port Tarakohe ©2024 Miriam Richardson Collingwood estuary ©2024 Miriam Richardson The perfect omelette pan ©2024 Miriam Richardson Collingwood picnic spot ©2024 Miriam Richardson Farewell Spit lighthouse ©2024 Miriam Richardson Google says it is a 2 hour drive! 2 hours! Take a month! SH60 Richmond to Collingwood, Tasman SH60 begins in Richmond, travels through Motueka and Takaka and ends after 117km at Collingwood. Richmond is a great little town/suburb south of Nelson, with a complete range of shops, good opshops, a really friendly place to get your COF/WOF, a truck stop, two campgrounds, and a dump station. After driving through the orchards, we slip off the highway to Māpua, a cute seaside village on Ruby Bay. Dont miss the Interactive Wooden Art Gallery which is full of fascinations. Beyond Māpua is the wonderful McKee Memorial Reserve (above & right), a camping reserve between the hill and the shore. You dont need to be self-contained as there are toilets, showers, and a dump station. It’s not free, but low cost. Kina Beach Kina Beach Heading to reunite with SH60, instead, turn-off to Kina Beach, another small campground on the sea. There are toilets, so no need to be self-contained. It’s a lovely stop worth at least a couple of nights. Then we head on to get back to SH60 and on to Motueka. Motueka There are two freedom camps in Motueka, both in alcohol ban areas, one in the town centre, one by the sea. There are not nearly as many parks as there are freedom campers, but there are also two campgrounds. Motueka has a great range of shops, and opshops, and an excellent dump station. There are two camping spots beyond Motueka, both require self-containment, one low cost (Riwaka Hotel) and one free, Riwaka Valley. Instead of heading for the big Tākaka hill, you can turn off SH60 to go to Kaiteriteri and Mārahau, both with campgrounds, spectacular beaches, and easy access to the Abel Tasman National Park. Takaka Hill The Tākaka Hill is an entity in its own right. It is the only ground access to Golden Bay, it is steep and windy, and the weather often closes it. When I was there a long stretch was one way with timing lights taking some of the frustration out of the wait. The hill is limestone, there are caves (costs to enter) and there is a free camping spot most of the way up the Motueka side of the hill, Hawke’s Lookout, easier for shorter vehicles than longer ones. There is a great walk to the lookout, and you get to see the sculpted limestone up close. Over the top of the hill its a long slope down into Golden Bay — lovely views, if you are a passenger, lovely glimpses of you are driving. Golden Bay reminds me of 1960s NZ, it’s not all spiffed-up and moneyed like the Motueka side. Tākaka Tākaka is the main town in the bay. There is a free camp in the town car park (leave by 7am!), a dump station, and water from the petrol station (for a donation). Takaka bike shop painting above by David Liddall. It’s a central hub for some lovely adventures: Te Waikoropupū Springs, and the original Pupu hydro power station and its walkway, further up the valley. Labyrinth Rocks (especially good on a hot day), Port Tarakohe with its spectacular views (take your tea and watch the sundown), Wainui Falls and Wainui Bay for a day trip, and over the hills beyond is Tōtaranui, and the northern end of the Abel Tasman National Park. Continuing on SH60, the bay is a beautiful green rural area, with views over the sea from the high spots. There are not many freedom camps, but there’s a campground before the Parapara Inlet, and another at Collingwood itself where SH60 ends. Collingwood Collingwood is another small village, with a pub, a grocery and hardware shop, a first/secondhand shop which is “open if we are not closed, 11am to 4pm”. I got my perfect, new, cast-iron omelette pan from this shop. It is a beautiful spot, with stunning picnic spots as well as a lovely campground. Collingwood is a great base for adventures beyond. The Pākawau Campground, Whanganui Inlet (its the west coast, some free camping spots, narrow roads and causeways; no exit), Wharariki Campground, also on the west coast, beyond the entrance to Pūponga Farm and Cape Farewell. Farewell Spit has a visitor centre/cafe and you can walk from there to the beaches, but it is a fair hike. To get a real look you need to take a tour which gets you beyond the public boundaries as far as the lighthouse, far out at the end of the spit. Day tours are run out of Collingwood, picking up people along the way. The lighthouse Take a month SH60: you could do it in a day. Google says it is a 2 hour drive! 2 hours! Take a month! Plenty to see and do, and lovely every bit of the way. ◊ Photos ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 7

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption A motorhome All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A tent crafted to attach to the tailgate of a hatch back. All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A caravan All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A caravan with an outdoor room/awning. All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A tent with attitude. All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A tent. All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove An ambulance turned motorhome. All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A bus. All Points Camping gathering at Morison’s Bush. Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Eclectic bunch Bette Cosgrove What an eclectic bunch of lovely people camping all sorts of ways. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 11

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing wild silverbeet! Marfells Beach M Richardson Marfells Beach is a DOC camp (pay online, whew, there is mobile coverage this time) has wild silverbeet. Not just thickly (and usefully) in verge, but sprouting in the sand too. Marlborough. ◊ ©2024 M Richardson ckw.nz/doc-marfels Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 21

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The cat comes too ©2024 Warren B Smith only 6km from home... The cat comes too Warren B Smith The cat comes too. This spot is only 6km from home. And the cat always come along for the adventures… ©2024 Warren B Smith Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 16

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Xmas at Aniwhenua... ... with 6 others, all old friends from around the North Island. ©2024 Carolyn London Xmas at Aniwhenua ©2024 Carolyn London Xmas at Aniwhenua ©2024 Carolyn London Xmas at Aniwhenua ©2024 Carolyn London six others, all old friends STOP and STAY Christmas at Lake Aniwhenua Carolyn London Christmas at Lake Aniwhenua , with 6 others, all old friends from around the North Island. Lovely spot, local to us. It was very hot. Carolyn London.Bay of Plenty. ©2024 Carolyn London Any camping is allowed. Not affected by law changes. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 15

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Self-contained- blue-H.webp Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? M RIchardson You can freedom camp if your warrant is one of these three. Certified Blue before 7/7/23 , and not expired. Fixed or portable toilet. Certified Blue before 7/7/24 , and not expired. Fixed toilet only. Green Warrant The above warrant holders can freedom camp on public land, which means: all land managed by district and local councils. This may include land otherwise controlled by NZTA, LINZ or DOC. LINZ: Currently LINZ has 5 freedom camping areas and the new law applies. As at May 2024 DOC has made no changes relating to self-containment: the existing standard applies (portable or fixed toilet) for sites that require self-containment.  ckw.nz/linz An enforcement officer may inspect your warrant card. If they have a valid reason to ask , you must produce the self-containment certificate. An enforcement officer may not inspect inside your vehicle. Freedom camping & self-containment 2 Where are we at with self-containment and freedom camping? 2 Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? 4 Getting your camping vehicle certified 8 Am I freedom camping? 8 What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping 10 Planning a toilet for the freedom camping green warrant? 12 Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how 14 Keeping up with the self-containment changes 16 Composting and coddiwompling ︎ Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 2

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2022 Tackle Tactics The bill is based on the flawed premise that travellers with a portable toilet are less responsible than those with a fixed toilet The controversial Nash Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill Gary Stoneley The Minister of Tourism’s (MP Stuart Nash) draconian proposals to further regulate ‘freedom’ camping in NZ is a hot topic at the moment. For two years the minister has been very vocal about what he wants to change and when it will happen. Time is getting on and finally we have a proposed bill to study. Following on from initial public consultation of the style ‘we are going to do this’, the industry has been in a state of limbo, wondering if and when any changes will take place. Stuart Nash’s proposals, should they progress, do not address the current regulatory inconsistencies and disadvantages for tent campers but move to further disadvantage ‘all’ vehicle campers who carry a portable toilet. Based on the misguided premise that travellers with a portable toilet are less responsible than those with a fixed toilet, the Minister’s proposals intend to stop all vehicles with portable toilets from being able to be certified as self contained. These proposals are harmful to our camping industry and detrimental to an inclusive society. The Ministers proposals dont address the problem of providing toilets for travellers. The lack of public facilities thorough the country is the root cause of the problem, and it affects all travellers, not just those who camp. While the Minister suggests that the government tried allocating money to provide public facilities, which has not worked to solve the toileting problem, much of this money was spent on enforcing rules, very little on actually providing public facilities. One would have to question why the Minister for Tourism with a brief to support regional economies, seems so hell-bent on restricting thousands of NZ campers from enjoying this recreational activity. The Ministers with responsibility for camping legislation, the Freedom Camping Act and Campground Regulations in NZ are Conservation, Health and Recreation and Sport. There is no doubt that NZ camping legislation is out of date and needs substantive review, but having a misguided Minister of Tourism, fiddling with our freedom camping because he seems to have a portable toilet fetish, is unhelpful. His attacks on responsible NZ campers who use portable toilets comes across as vindictive. There is no question that it is far better for a small vehicle camper, traveling and living in their vehicle, to have a portable toilet than no toilet at all. By voluntarily having this on-board, campers not only have the opportunity to use it when caught short, but are (currently) able to enjoy staying overnight at self-contained-only-sites. There is no obvious benefit in the removal this incentive for small vehicle campers to have a portable toilet on-board, and some very obvious down-sides. To be self contained a vehicle must have a ‘fixed’ toilet — consequences. The proposal to exclude portable toilets from the definition of self-contained will exclude many of NZ’s campers who have older classic caravans and motorhomes, trailer tents and outback campers, poptop caravans, vehicles with roof top tents, small vans, teardrop campers and slide on campers. Under Stuart Nash’s proposals these campers will be excluded from staying at many council reserves or other government controlled land. Up until now the benefits of self-containment have encouraged vehicle campers to have a portable toilet, but this proposal removes the incentive and negates the hoped-for benefits from this proposal. Excluding some kinds of campers from public land —consequences. The bill will have an immediate effect on the more than half of NZ councils which do not have freedom camping bylaws. Camping vehicles that are not certified as self-contained when the bill becomes law, will be immeditately blocked from freedom camping on any public land controlled by a local authority. These councils will have to take on the cost of enforcing these new rules when they come into force. NZTA (NZ Transport Authority) and LINZ (Land Information NZ) will be given power to issue notices and manage freedom camping. Older classic caravans and motorhomes, trailer tents, outback campers, poptop caravans, vehicles with roof-top tents, small vans, teardrop campers and slide on campers, and other vehicles, which can (and currently do) freedom camp responsibly, are being excluded from self-containment under the new rules. Councils could well lose the patronage of these groups of campers and the economic benefits they bring. A council that wants to encourage all NZers to visit would need to expressly cater for non-self-contained freedom camping — this will necessitate the cost of developing and consulting on new policy and bylaws, create signage etc . This is a change that could well create greater inconsistency between regions. Councils that already have freedom camping bylaws have 2 years to transition their bylaws to the new rules. The costs of the changes — who pays? The increased regulation will not apply to all travellers. It is intended that the administration of self-containment be tightened, with greatly increased administrative costs collected from users and the issuing bodies. The expense and administrative burden of the proposed new law will be borne by the premium camper market, those who already have fixed-toilets. In effect, the increased regulation process will only affect those campers that are not considered by the Minister to be a problem in the first place. Small vans, poptop campers, teardrop campers and roof top tents etc. which do not have a ‘fixed toilet’ will not be eligible for, nor subject to, self-containment regulations. Currently these vehicles are eligible for and operate as self-contained, responsible travellers. Why the focus on fixed toilets? You have to wonder why the Minister is so obsessed with the “fixed toilet” issue. Perhaps he has had a bad experience. As a cyclist, he may have experienced being caught short while out on the road. Outdoorsy-types with a small camper and portable toilet at least have a toilet they can use. The Minister, out and about with his ute and his bike, perhaps (probably?) does not. Despite media hype there is very little verified evidence of poor toileting behaviour by freedom campers, and the Minister has not, when asked (by Official Information Request) been able to supply supporting evidence for his assertions. Small-camper tourists spend more You also have to wonder why the Minister is so obsessed with small-vehicle camping. The evidence supplied on his behalf by MBIE shows that tourists with small-vehicle campers spend more in NZ than their wealthier counterparts — less per day but more over their stay in NZ. NZ’s Leisure Camping Industry Made up of several different interest groups, with differing priorities, the NZ Leisure camping industry is a wide network that must work together to protect the future of recreational camping in NZ. Over the past 2 decades there have been considerable attacks by the media and point scoring by MP’s at the expense of NZ campers. In many cases these attacks on NZ campers have been targeted at campers who are seen to be at the ‘non premium’ end of the market. A perception has been created and promoted by various lobby groups and NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) that the budget camper / tourist does not contribute to our society. This could not be further from the truth. Any individual or family, only has so much disposable income. Money comes in and it is often spent on mortgages or rent, day to day living costs, purchases, medical expenses and entertainment. While it is up to each family or individual to decide how they wish to spend their disposable income, wherever they are, home or traveling that money still gets spent. People traveling NZ and camping continue to spend and the communities through which they travel are the beneficiaries of this spending. Whether a person spends $300 a week in their home town or $300 a week across the country, retailers, employees and government all benefit. A traveler in a small campervan will spend their disposable income in the communities they visit just as a traveler in a large motorhome will spend their disposable income. It is not right for us as a society to judge people on image, what they can afford to spend, or whether they choose to stay local or travel and enjoy what the country offers. It is right for us to appreciate the contribution that each member of our community makes, even if they are just traveling through. The reality is that travel camping is healthy and benefits families and communities. Summary In summary, Minister Stuart Nash’s proposals, should they go ahead, will not achieve the outcome he intends and they are not workable. There is no identified benefit to any sector of the NZ leisure camping industry or to local authorities. The increased compliance processes and costs would be a blatant waste of government money and a waste and burden on ordinary NZ campers as well as local councils. Where to from here? So where do we go from here? The Minister for Tourism Stuart Nash has now presented his draft bill in parliament. The supporting self-containment regulations will only be made available when the bill begins its readings in parliament. Both the bill and regulations will go to select committee, the public and industry for submissions and review. There is opportunity for public submissions. Until legislation is passed the current ‘voluntary’ 4-year, self containment standard NZS 5465:2001 still applies. There is currently no change. If new legislation on self containment is passed there will be a transition / implementation period. New systems take time. Keep the issue alive In the meantime, we can keep the issue alive by discussion forums and making MP’s and the public aware of the failings and implications of the bill. Online discussions, petitions and public protests are all good options. Camping the Kiwi Way has developed ‘Proud to be a Camper’ vehicle decals. BY: Gary Stoneley, Founder, All Points Camping Club of NZ Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 9

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Sea Lion As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. ©2024 Heather Auckram The Catlins To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. ©2024 Heather Auckram Tautuku Bay As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. ©2024 Heather Auckram DOC camp The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. ©2024 Heather Auckram absolute bliss Escape to Papatowai Heather Auckram After the chaos of Christmas our frazzled nerves needed restoring. We threw a few supplies into the campervan and headed for the healing calm of Papatowai. To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. There was pure scenic magic round every bend; farms, quaint cottages, sea, wetlands, bush, sealed and unsealed roads and hardly any people. As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. Dogs allowed. You need to book online and there are no designated sites. The next day started with blue skies and went from hot to hotter. As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. It’s the original route the horse-drawn coaches took after coming off the beach. The Lost Gypsy Gallery and the local store both make great food, with the store having fuel and supplies too. I could get no wifi signal on the Spark network. I simply had no choice but to just enjoy the disconnection from the world beyond the hills and just breathe. Absolute bliss. Thank you Papatowai from a fully restored human. n Photos ©2024 Heather Auckram Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 11