5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mobile cell towers Miriam Richardson Ever wondered where the nearest cell tower is? Some places have none, some have a lot. Find out more about the cell towers near you, or where your are planning to travel: gis.geek.nz ©2023 JGrah.am (Downloaded September 2023) Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 29

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption hydro_3394_H.webp ©2024 M Richardson The park There is a longdrop toilet in the bushes to the right of the entrance way. ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson The map ©2024 M Richardson How the power is made ©2024 M Richardson Old equipment on display ©2024 M Richardson The walk up to the penstock ©2024 M Richardson More of the path up ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Looking down the pipe to the power station ©2024 M Richardson The water race ©2024 M Richardson The water race The path looks really safe and easy. ©2024 M Richardson Wide path beside the water race/ Nice, wide safe and easy. ©2024 M Richardson Becomes very narrow beside the water race. ©2024 M Richardson From the water race edge to the intake weir. Wide enough for a quad bike. ©2024 M Richardson The intake weir ©2024 M Richardson Golden Bay Stunning views over Golden Bay on the loop back. ©2024 M Richardson Golden Bay Stunning views over Golden Bay on the loop back.©2024 M Richardson Golden Bay Stunning views over Golden Bay on the loop back. ©2024 M Richardson The road out (and in) ©2024 M Richardson a board perched on the outer edge of the race Walking the race Miriam Richardson I was parked up alone at the Pupu Hydro Power Scheme carpark on a Winter morning, a very pleasant freedom camping spot by the entrance to the walkway. There is a toilet tucked in the bushes if you need it. The carpark is at the end of an easy gravel road through farmland, beyond Pupu Springs in Golden Bay. The water race was originally built in 1901 for gold workings, and later repurposed to generate electricity, opening in 1929. After 51 years a malfunction put it offline, and volunteers eventually purchased and restored the water race and power plant, reopening it 8 years later, in 1988. It now produces 1.8 Gwh each year. The loop track was completed in 2003. The Pupu Hydro Scheme is an historic site, and the track is in Kahurangi National Park. There is a steep climb up to the penstock, where the water from the race is piped down to the power station. The track then follows the water race up the valley to the intake weir on Campbell’s Creek. From there the loop crosses the stream and winds slowly on a gravel access road, back down to the power station. 5.8km, 2 hours. No dogs. So. I headed up to the penstock, forgetting to take my walking pole. It was steep, rather damp and a bit slippery, so I decided to carry on along the nice wide board walk and do the loop rather than back down the slippery slope. The wide board walk turned into a narrow boardwalk turned into a very narrow board walk. Until this time I had never thought I was afraid of heights. But the very narrow path, with a (felt-flimsy-to-me) rail had me terrified. I haven’t often experienced vertigo before (those bridges without solid bases do it). The wide board walk turned into a narrow board walk turned into a very narrow board walk. Until this time I had never thought I was afraid of heights. But the very narrow path, with a (felt-flimsy-to-me) rail had me terrified. I haven’t often experienced vertigo before (those bridges without solid bases do it). Eyes on the end, hold the rail tight, don’t look left at the drop, step, move hand, step… repeat… ohhh, a post… move hand to the rail beyond the post… step again; repeat…repeat… Whew, made it… I considered turning back after the second round-the-bluff-we-go. If I had only known there were 15, all with terrifying drop-offs, not even trees to catch you as you fall… (how would anyone find me? I thought, if I slipped and fell?). It got narrower than pictured, but I wasn’t taking my clenched hand off the rail to take photos. The race itself was beautiful, with clear water, mosses and ferns. Sometimes the track was a board perched on the outer edge of the race (OMG!) . Eventually, it became a “normal” track, and I met men on a quad bike, up to do track maintenance. “You could have warned us, grumble, grumble …”. From here on it was quad-bikeable, less interesting, but my heart rate could climb down. Some lovely bush and great views over the valley, until it turned into a really boring bit of road to walk along. Boring was surprisingly enjoyable. Staying safe as you travel I had quite a few thoughts about the staying safe aspect of this walk. I was just lucky I didn’t slip or get vertigo and fall. Travelling alone and walking alone has risks and being in places with no mobile coverage has its risks. The hydro scheme site had no internet or mobile coverage when I was there. Personal locator beacon (PLB) Some people invest in a locator beacon, whch is useful not only when walking, but also when in your motorhome. They cost $300–500. When you get into trouble you trigger the alarm and wait for rescue.More: DOC: ckw.nz/doc-plbRescue Coordinanation Centre: ckw.nz/rescue-beacon . Personal safety phone app There are a variety of apps that work in different ways. Some are designed for walking to your car in the dark — hold the button down: if you take your finger off a distress message and your location is sent to bring help. I settled on the Get Home Safe Personal app, a NZ-made app with a good funding model. ckw.nz/get-home-safe With this app, you set a time when you will check back in, and tell it what to do if you don’t. It can send a text (costs) or a message. You tell it who to send the message to, and what to say. You can buy 10 texts for 3.99, and you buy more when you need them. Emails are free. While it is in action, the app monitors your location, sending to its server every 2 mins, or, if you are out of coverage, storing the data for when it next can send it. When it helps: if I feel really unwell at night (will I be capable in the morning?) with a morning check in; are those people a threat to me? with a 10 minute check in; if i am not back from my walk in 1/2/3 hours; driving in snow/ice/weather where there is no coverage: if I dont check in in 2/3/4 hours; travelling out of mobile coverage, if I am not back in contact in 2/3 days. My message can say what my plans are, where I am located and / or travelling, and whether or when emergency services should be involved. Parked up a valley with no coverage, its a bit late: you have to plan in advance. You need a reliable person to receive your messages and act on them. I ask them to try to contact me first (did I just forget to check in?) and take action if they are unable to reach me. More Which to use? The PLB is not tied to mobile coverage and has official, automatic responders, while an app requires preplanning and relies on others, but has more permutations and more general uses. Use both! All images ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 24

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Traction engine rides ©2024 Margaret Earle Traction engine rides My granddaughters particularly liked the traction engine rides and dancing to the music at the various stages around the central business district. ©2024 Margaret Earle Vintage and classic cars On Saturday the main street was packed with a display of vintage and classic cars and other vehicles of those eras. ©2024 Margaret Earle Vintage and classic cars On Saturday the main street was packed with a display of vintage and classic cars and other vehicles of those eras. ©2024 Margaret Earle The vintage weekend is an annual event held over Wellington Anniversary Weekend. Music at the various stages around the central business district. ©2024 Margaret Earle More music Music at the various stages around the central business district. ©2024 Margaret Earle Dancing to the music Dancing to the music at the various stages around the central business district. ©2024 Margaret Earle SteamRail Wanganui ©2024 Margaret Earle Wanganui Aeroclub ©2024 Margaret Earle Aeroclub We drove out to the Whanganui Aeroclub on Sunday morning to see the planes on display. My three-year-old granddaughter had lots of fun climbing into the cockpit of a top-dressing plane and a couple of others that were open to view. ©2024 Margaret Earle Aeroclub We drove out to the Whanganui Aeroclub on Sunday morning to see the planes on display. My three-year-old granddaughter had lots of fun climbing into the cockpit of a top-dressing plane and a couple of others that were open to view. ©2024 Margaret Earle Aeroclub We drove out to the Whanganui Aeroclub on Sunday morning to see the planes on display. My three-year-old granddaughter had lots of fun climbing into the cockpit of a top-dressing plane and a couple of others that were open to view. ©2024 Margaret Earle All Points camp at the Whanganui Intermediate School In January, 70 adults and 25 young people took part in an All Points camp at the Whanganui Intermediate School. ©2024 Margaret Earle A mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans We were camped in a mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans and many camped as family groups or groups of friends. There was a great sense of community during the weekend. ©2024 Margaret Earle A mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans We were camped in a mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans and many camped as family groups or groups of friends. There was a great sense of community during the weekend. ©2024 Margaret Earle A mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans We were camped in a mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans and many camped as family groups or groups of friends. There was a great sense of community during the weekend. ©2024 Margaret Earle A mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans We were camped in a mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans and many camped as family groups or groups of friends. There was a great sense of community during the weekend. ©2024 Margaret Earle A great sense of community at the All Points Camp. All Points camp at the Whanganui Intermediate School. ©2024 Margaret Earle Come and camp with us next year Whanganui vintage camping Margaret Earle In January, 70 adults and 25 young people took part in an All Points camp at the Whanganui Intermediate School. They were camped in a mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans and many camped as family groups or groups of friends. There was a great sense of community during the weekend. The Intermediate School is in walking distance of the many events held during the Whanganui Vintage Weekend. The vintage weekend is an annual event held over Wellington Anniversary Weekend. The first vintage weekend was held in 2012 and the following year the Whanganui Vintage Weekend Trust was formed to grow the event for the benefit of the Whanganui community. Over the course of the weekend a great variety of events are held. Many of these events are free or very low cost. My granddaughters particularly liked the traction engine rides and dancing to the music at the various stages around the central business district. We also visited the steamboat and tram museums on Taupo Quay. On Saturday the main street was packed with a display of vintage and classic cars and other vehicles of those eras. Lots of the activity takes place by the Whanganui River including a riverside market on the Saturday and a Riverside Shindig with live music and food stalls on Sunday. Some locals and visitors get dressed up in vintage outfits and we saw a few steampunkers strutting around as well. On Saturday night the town reverberated to the bands playing on the stages in the main street. We drove out to the Whanganui Aeroclub on Sunday morning to see the planes on display. My three-year-old granddaughter had lots of fun climbing into the cockpit of a top-dressing plane and a couple of others that were open to view. There were also planes taking off and landing on the nearby runway, including a vampire jet and a DC3. After the visit to the Aeroclub we dropped in at the SteamRail Whanganui workshop for a jigger ride. This is the fourth time All Points has used the Intermediate School to camp during at the Whanganui Vintage weekend. By using the school grounds we can keep the camping fees low. The money we raise is donated to the school. The Whanganui Intermediate school grounds are a big grassy site on two levels with a playground and a swimming pool. This year the weather was tropical — hot, sunny, humid, and even a torrential downpour on Saturday afternoon. The school pool was a great place to cool off. On the Sunday evening we had a communal dinner when many of us came together with our food, drinks, tables and chairs. Low-cost camping and community fundraiser. Holding camps to coincide with local community events is a great way to provide low-cost accommodation for out-of-town people who want to visit these events. Schools, scout halls and other community or group facilities are a practical option for these types of weekend. They have the sorts of facilities that campers require and it’s a great fundraiser for them. Come and camp with us next year for the Whanganui Vintage weekend and look out for other All Points camps organised to support local community events. n All Points Camping Club of NZ JOIN US: allpointscampingnz.org For only $35 (1st year) Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 36

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption In the distance In the distance we could see a stunning cloud which was scattering a hail storm around nearby Christchurch. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Kool Grill and chat We quickly put up a shelter and tried to fend off the cold from the wind. The Kool Grill was soon lit, offering some warmth, on which we enjoyed nibbling on toasted marshmallows as we chatted the evening away. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler No one seemed in a hurry to get away Flaxmere Garden Linda Butler The beauty of belonging to a camping group is occasionally we get to camp at some venues not opened to the general public for camping. This was the case at Flaxmere Garden, in Canterbury. We settled in on a Friday afternoon. In the distance we could see a stunning cloud which was scattering a hail storm around nearby Christchurch. The backlash of this, though, was that it was bitterly cold. We quickly put up a shelter and tried to fend off the cold from the wind. The Kool Grill was soon lit, offering some warmth, on which we enjoyed nibbling on toasted marshmallows as we chatted the evening away. Saturday after morning coffee, our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. We were given maps, then followed her to her front lawn where she shared some interesting information about her property. She built the stone fence herself! We loved following the paths, crossing bridges, scanning over ponds and admiring the mountains in the distance. The garden was divided into hot areas and cold shaded areas. My favourite was the native bush walk, but then I also enjoyed the autumn colours that seemed to be scattered everywhere. We were followed on our walk by fantails. They seemed friendlier than others I’ve seen. That night we enjoyed a feast of rhubarb and feijoa crumble thanks to a team effort. It was yum. No one seemed in a hurry to get away. It was 3.45 in the afternoon before we got away. Yet again, another successful camp. Images ©2024 Linda Butler Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 35

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption SI-cara_H_tekapo_150023-2.webp SI-cara-frankie-WA0003.jpg SI-cara-stclair_111140.jpg SI-cara-buthchers_150547.jpg SI-cara-butchers_145402.jpg SI-cara-Patch_103858.webp SI-cara-wanaka_WA0005.jpg SI-cara-wanaka_101405.jpg SI-cara-tekapo_150023-2.jpg SI-cara-tekapo_173510.jpg SI-cara-hawea_143338.webp SI-cara-hawea_143414.jpg SI-cara-aoraki-1.jpg SI-cara-aoraki-2.jpg SI-cara-benmore_144935.jpg SI-cara-benmore_135801.jpg SI-cara-benmore_140250.webp SI-cara-benmore_142523.webp SI-cara-benmore_115659.jpg GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there April is a spectacular time of year to be in this alpine landscape. South Island caravan adventure Rose Campbell We set off on a radiantly sunny day in late March for our two week trip down south. The trip was timed to celebrate a birthday, visit family and friends, and to have some biking, hiking and kayaking adventures. Once the BaseCamp was packed, the gas bottle filled, and the kayaks and bikes loaded— Steve and I were on our way from the port hills of Nelson to the start point of our journey. Luckily we made it to the Top 10 campground in Hanmer by 5pm, just in time to set up camp before the rain started. In no time we were soaking in the hot springs and enjoying the feeling that our holiday was underway at last! Frankie, the Lagotto, who at the ripe old age of 13 is valiantly managing arthritis and failing joints, aided by a truckload of meds. St Clair Beach, Dunedin Dunedin Day 2 of our trip was a long haul all the way from Hanmer to Dunedin where we set up camp at the Dunedin Holiday Park and enjoyed one day of warmth and sunshine and some outdoor fun with family. The cold southerly blast suddenly hit the next day, on the dot of 9am, lowering the temperature by several degrees, and reminding us that we were in a direct line with the Antarctic weather system. Despite the weather, it was a fun few days camping out by St Clair beach, with Dunedin Arts Festival events to keep us entertained in the evenings, and some excellent food at nearby cafes. We highly recommend the Italian pizza at Esplanade right on St Clair beach (above), and Thai food at Spirit House, just a few doors along — both with an immediate connection to the surf rolling in on the beach below, through their front windows — and both offering imaginative vegetarian options on their menus. W ā naka Day 5. Keeping a close eye on weather reports we stocked up on supplies, and headed over to Wānaka next where we were lucky to be able to set up camp with friends at Albert Town. This was a spectacular time of year to be in this alpine landscape, with the glow of autumnal colours, and the deep, glassy stillness of the lake for our kayaking expeditions. Highlights included a paddle down from Dublin Bay to the Stevensons Arm of the lake, in pristine conditions (above), followed the next day by a trip out on the lake from Glendhu Bay around Roys Peninsula. The next day the weather forecast was spot on, and the strong winds determined that riding the bike trail was the best option. It was an exhilarating ride all the way from Albert Town, down the bike trail along the Clutha River, and then a gentle pedal around the lake front, with coffee stops along the way. From there the single trail track leads you up around the cliffs all the way around to Glendhu Bay. The timing was perfect — the rain hit just as the bike was loaded onto the ute and we headed into Wānaka to get the best ever Indian street food from the Delhi Hutt Food Truck in the industrial area around the back of the township. The food is prepared by the most inspiring young couple who work tirelessly in an impossibly tiny kitchen to produce their take-out deliciousness. By the time we had sat under their umbrella and enjoyed a mango lassi while they cooked and chatted, the rain subsided, and in no time we were down at the lake edge enjoying our picnic in the last of the sun on a blanket on the edge of the sand. We had hoped with the arrival of the windy conditions that we would get out on the lake the next evening for some sailing, however it was in fact so windy that we had to sit in the pub instead and just talk about what fun it might have been. We had some really memorable meals with friends during our stay, including Taco Tuesday at Amigos in Wānaka, followed by a drive over to Arrowtown the next evening to the Fork and Tap to enjoy a heartwarming Irish music jam session with some seriously good local musicians who were friends of our host in Wānaka. In fact, we were spoilt for choice this week with Festival of Colour shows in the evenings, and events during the day to choose from. Patch, the springer spaniel Daily bike rides along the Clutha with Patch, the springer spaniel, were very fun, and I was delighted when he shepherded me around Deans Bank MTB track, which runs from the end of the campground as you leave town. Our host Paul had been instrumental in building the trail, which is noted for its flow and nice technical details, and Patch knew it like the back of his paw. Glimpses of the river as you weave up through the forest are spectacular, and the ride across the tussocks leads you back to the final descent into the park. After the ride you really have earned your coffee and almond croissant from Pembroke Patisserie, which is so popular there are queues at peak times. Lake Hawea The 40 minute ride along the bike track from Albert Town to Lake Hawea is a great way to enjoy the landscape (above), and I discovered Sailz café in Hawea is the perfect refuelling stop. This café serves such delicious spanakopita, that I was compelled to return the next day for another round. From Sailz the bike track is a flowy ride with just a few short hills to manoeuvre until you reach the last bay before John’s Track takes you up and around the end. The ride along the trail above the lake that day was spectacular to say the least — in perfect, sunny, calm autumn conditions. ...the sudden arrival from the sky of a surreal flying figure We cooled off with a swim in the lake, which was so cold that it took a good 15 minutes before I was finally immersed — I took the slow approach, one centimetre of skin at time. Meanwhile, Francesca, the Italian water gal was in doggy heaven as she paddled her way off into the distance, feigning deafness when we called to her. What took our breath away next though, was the sudden arrival from the sky of a surreal flying figure running towards us across the water. A paraglider from the cliffs above us, who landed dramatically on the lake and flawlessly stepped onto the beach. Followed some 10–15 minutes later by the second arrival. Not for the faint-hearted. Lake Benmore Lake Benmore The return journey was decided by the weather, with a disturbed flow of air bringing heavy rain to the West Coast, and fine weather inland. We bade farewell to our wonderful Wānaka friends and headed away collecting birthday cake treats at Tarras Country Café on our journey up to Lake Benmore (above). The trip over Lindis Pass was spectacular, and although still fine, we could feel that the cold front was on its way. We stopped at Sailors Cutting and had a look at the campground, which seemed largely populated with empty caravans. Realising that there was an exciting section of the Alps to Ocean to ride from here, we downloaded my bike, and I rode the 16kms of single track bike trail that wound its way around the cliffs of Lake Benmore (below). Its remoteness and beauty makes for a really memorable ride, but being on my own I took care not to marvel too often at the views, as the drop-offs down to the lake were breathtaking in places. Steve met me on the track high above the Benmore Dam, and by this time the wind was picking up and the weather was changing. We camped that night in the Loch Laird Campground (below), on the Waitaki River below the Benmore Dam, which was eerily deserted. While there were a number of caravans with fairy lights and clotheslines, only one other couple were in residence that night. The rain started around 7pm and then the chill. We could feel that not far away there was probably snow. Aoraki The next day was cold and wet, and we packed up camp and headed towards Aoraki/Mt Cook. And how lucky we were with the weather — the mountains had a fresh coating of snow which we could see in the distance as we drove into the Glentanner Campground. Having set up camp we headed up to the village and did a short hike up Kea Point Track which ends at a viewing deck with close-up views of Mt Sefton, the sudden roar of an avalanche reminding us of the alpine environment we were in. The next morning we were very excited to awake to see the first rays of sun creep over Aoraki/Mt Cook with the beauty of Lake Pukaki below us. We enjoyed breakfast with those most spectacular views, and then drove first thing to the village to get parking before the crowds arrived. From there we hiked up the Hooker Valley Track, before coming to the viewing point of Mueller Glacier and the first swing bridge which crosses the Hooker River. There are two more swing bridges to cross on the trail, before finally arriving at the glacier lake with amazing views of Aoraki/Mt Cook (above), the Hooker Glacier and the Southern Alps. We were so fortunate to have done this walk which is now closed, as the first bridge was badly damaged in a recent storm and the track is closed for now. After returning to Glentanner for lunch we then headed to the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Track which takes you up to views of the lower Haupapa/Tasman Glacier and lake and the mountains at the head of the valley. The hot showers in the lovely new facilities at Glentanner were very welcome at the end of the day. Lake Tekapo The drive the next morning as we headed out along Lake Pukaki was stunning with its glistening glacial turquoise waters stretching for miles. Heading towards Tekapo the trip was only marred by the delay due to a crash caused by an out of control camper van, which closed the road for a period of time. Fortunately there were no fatalities. We reached Tekapo Holiday Park by early afternoon, and after setting up camp, we were straight onto the water with our kayaks to make the most of the still conditions (photo p6). Back at camp, we were able to catch the last of the sun over drinks and snacks at the picnic table (above), followed by more lovely hot showers to warm us up. Hanmer Our last night on holiday was back at Hanmer Top 10 where we started the journey, with another soak in the springs to end the day, and plenty to reminisce about. We were very lucky with our trip that the weather stayed fine when we needed it, and we were able to adjust our activities and expectations according to the conditions. The South Island has so many places to discover and endless possibilities for new adventures. Needless to say, we are already planning the next trip! 🏕️ Photos ©2025 Rose Campbell & Steve Johnston Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 5

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 Camping the Kiwi Way Table of contents, Spring, issue 9 Editor 2 Self-containment warrant cards: which ones are valid? 2 Freedom camping and self-containment: where are we at? 2 More for councils and government 3 Featured in the Spring issue 4 Editorial 5 Steampunk— from north to south and back again 7 The re-build of my Toyota van 8 The West Coast in winter 9 Solar basics for dummies 11 Converting your camper van: The Cruzar Campervan story 13 Towing your caravan — tips, tricks and weights 15 A night in an arboretum 16 Cautionary tyre tale 17 A winter day on Farewell Spit 19 On the shoulder of a god 19 It was freezing 20 Buying used caravans: What you need to look for 21 Buyer beware 22 HOBBIES Home roasted coffee beans 23 Developing an innovative camping toilet solution: Fix-a-Potty™ 24 Kiwi ingenuity & insults 24 Fix’n’Rail 25 A new cassette toilet for small spaces: The making of the BlackMOA™ 26 Challenges for local councils 27 North Island hot pool safari 30 RECIPES Making the most of your pressure cooker 31 RECIPES Girdle scones (aka griddle scones) 32 GAME DOC campsites 3: Central NI Fill in the spaces 33 The Aratiatia Dam 34 Stop and Stay City dwellers: your first camp away Stop and Stay 35 Stop and Stay Parua Bay 35 Stop and Stay Waikawa Bay 36 EVENTS Come camping 37 EVENTS Festivals 38 DOC update 39 Getting your camping vehicle certified 40 All Points Camping Club of NZ Self Containment and freedom camping 2 Self-containment warrant cards: which ones are valid? 2 Freedom camping and self-containment: where are we at? 23 Developing an innovative camping toilet solution: Fix-a-Potty™ 24 Kiwi ingenuity & insults 24 Fix’n’Rail 25 A new cassette toilet for small spaces: The making of the BlackMOA™ 26 Challenges for local councils Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 3

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption A multi-generation caravan and ... a great great grandchild. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A multi-generation caravan and great great grandchild. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove A great great grandchild Bette Cosgrove A multi-generation caravan and great great grandchild. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 14

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Camping The Elgrand is self-contained for camping on its own, or I use it to tow the caravan. Flexibility. ©2024 Gary Stoneley I just want to go camping. It’s healthy, its fun, and it keeps me sane. Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health Gary Stoneley I go camping for my mental health. Bev and I have done this for over 25 years. It is our choice to go camping with a caravan, but I could use my Elgrand van if I wanted. I’m not happy with the NZ Government interfering with my choice of leisure time by restricting how I go camping. I consider myself a responsible camper and pretty much everyone I know is. Whether they have a tent, trailer camper, small van, housebus or caravan I have rarely seen fellow campers not respecting the environment. I remember in the 1990’s staying at a campsite somewhere, or maybe on a caravan club rally and being taught how to remove a patch of turf (to be replaced later) and let the kitchen waste water soak into the ground below the surface, or to have a bucket with a couple of holes in the bottom so all the solids were kept and water drained away. A loose cap on a waste container did much the same. That’s not something you see so much any more. It wasn’t uncommon for the caravan waste water to be used to water trees, away from activity areas. Any residual food matter was soon gobbled up by hungry little animals. Campers now, are far more aware of the negative effect of chemicals and the health risk of not disposing of waste water properly. But it’s not unusual in a rural setting to be told, just dump it on the ground or around trees. Didn’t dishwater deal to aphids on plants? The expectations placed on campers are now much higher than they were 20 to 30 years ago. The first New Zealand Self-containment Standard was published in 1990 and was a joint effort by multiple organisations and government departments working together. Initially only covering motorhomes and caravans — people were living in these it seemed — the Standard set some minimum expectations for both the occupant’s health and reducing environmental harm. A real plus about this was that weekend camping events could be held at venues like schools or reserves without facilities and organisers could say their campers were self-contained and took all their waste with them. It was an extension of the Caravan Club and wider camping adage of ‘Pack in, pack out’. Skipping forward a quarter of a century and self-containment has become a government regulatory tool for NZ’s vehicle campers. Yes, it is targeted and policed at those who chose to camp in a vehicle, with considerable infringement fees. And it is affecting my mental health and the mental health of thousands of NZ campers and our supporting industry. Why is the NZ government restricting and penalising NZ campers, who choose to use a vehicle to camp rather than a tent? Our family caravan has a permanently fixed, sealed, toilet, but the NZ government wants us to fit an external vent to it. It’s pointless and will just fumigate the camper next door. My trusty Elgrand I can’t enjoy for camping anymore, unless I permanently fix a toilet into it. Well that screws up putting sheets of gib in it now. It’s stressful just thinking about all this. Should I even bother getting a new ‘green’ warrant card for freedom camping? If I don’t submit, where can I camp at no cost? Hey, NZ Government, Stop screwing with my leisure time activity! It’s affecting my mental health! I just want to go camping. It’s healthy, its fun, and it keeps me sane. “Camping in all its different forms puts us on the doorstep of the great outdoors and provides a clear pathway to a healthier and happier lifestyle – one in which people appreciate nature more and are active outdoors. Given the many negative events that have been happening in recent times at home and abroad, anything that helps people to feel better about themselves and each other is vitally important.” Sabina Voysey, The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Director General Read the report: ckw.nz/outjoyment Download : ckw.nz/outjoyment-pdf DOC has also given us articles about 'outjoyment' A new free guide to help improve well-being by connecting with nature for therapy is available in Tairāwhiti, Gisborne. Short walks, sightseeing, photography, and bird and wildlife watching were the most popular outdoor activities for kiwi and international visitors. 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 20

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Greenies on the road: Managing food scraps Kath Irvine Last year in December, we sold up and hit the road in our Hino housetruck — a sharp learning curve and lots of broken crockery! but we’re loving it. The only thing I miss is the fresh herbs and vegies from my garden and the ease of recycling our food scraps. I’ve been turning our food scraps into compost for many a year now, and there’s no way I’m sending them to the landfill now. We chose to use bokashi buckets in our housetruck, as we already had them. A worm farm could also work, though bokashi is possibly more forgiving and takes all food waste — bones and shells included. Recycling, rubbish and bokashi buckets tucked up with the batteries. ©2023 Kath Irvine Bokashi buckets, are a 2 bucket system — one sitting inside the other. The food scraps go into the top bucket and are sprinkled with a special brew called compost zing. This looks like sawdust and is full of beneficial microbes that facilitate fermentation. The liquid drips into the bottom bucket, providing a power juice, full of microbes to pour on your crops. You need at least 2 sets because when one is full, it needs to sit and ferment for 10–14 days before using. Bokashi buckets are readily available to buy, but you can easily make them. All you need is 2 buckets the same size. Drill small holes all over the bottom of one bucket and sit it inside the other. The key factor is a sealed lid for the top bucket. The seal is important because like all fermentation, success relies on the exclusion of air. Put the buckets somewhere undercover, not too cold and out of direct sunlight (a little morning or afternoon sun is fine). There is no smell when the lid is on. And when you lift the lid, it smells like pickles. Rather than opening the bokashi every time you have food scraps, collect them in a small container and add them at the end of day. Start off by sprinkling a dusting of compost zing in the bottom of the top bucket and add your first lot of food scraps. Push them down firmly to exclude air (a potato masher is good for the squeamish), then sprinkle another dusting of compost zing on top. The zing gets the pickling happening and is the reason bokashi never smells. Close the lid so it clicks and seals. When a bucket is full to the brim, I move the new one in front and leave the other tucked behind to pickle away. Because bokashi is pre-fermented and alive with beneficial microbes, it incorporates into soil or compost quickly — such a simple, potent way to keep soil fertility up! Trenching bokashi into the garden. Edible Backyard. ©2023 Kath Irvine But what happens when you don’t have a garden? We are lucky, and most of the time, staying with switched on people who are excited to receive a bucket of bokashi into their garden. But its not always the case and extra hard in campgrounds where food scraps are still considered rubbish; I find it pretty shocking. Its an effort, I know, but once you get your set up happening, its easy as pie. We really must all be recycling our food scraps. “When food ends up in landfill, it decomposes without oxygen, and as a result, it releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest producer of carbon emissions behind China and the United States.” lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz I used to take a bokashi bucket with us when we holidayed — it’s not such a big deal. The tricky part , when on the road, comes at the end, when its pickled and ready to go on the compost. Be creative and determined, and find places. And when you do — spread the word! The more of us that ask where we can compost our food waste, the more available it will become. Rankers have a sustainability filter to help you choose responsible camp sites — though whether this is meaningful or not, I’d have to do a bit more digging to know. A network to link travelling bokashi makers with domestic or commercial compost heaps would be a fine thing. Hop online and check with the local council. 
Perhaps there is a local composting facility or community garden you could drop off to. There are so many ways for camp grounds to properly manage food scraps! Pigs, chickens, worms, compost, there are even commercial-sized bokashi bins. If supermarkets in France can do it … Photos ©2023 Kath Irvine Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 9

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption smallest-1.webp smallest-3.webp smallest-2.webp smallest-2-angel.webp smallest-2-sign.webp smallest-4.webp smallest-5.webp The smallest church Margaret Earle We visited New Zealand’s smallest church which is just south of Dargaville. The grounds around it have some interesting curiosities. Photos ©2023 Margaret Earle Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 32

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Marshmallows by the fire Linda Butler MarshmaMallows by the fire. Very memorable. Thanks Gary. January 2023. Wiahora, Motukarara. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 27

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption STOP and STAY Kekerengu Marty Ireland Camping with friends at Kekerengu on the Kaikoura coast, halfway between Blenheim and Kaikoura. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 27