ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

"Fundamentally wrong": Council faces heat over proposed freedom camping bylaw

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Oct 2025, 8:46am
(Photo / NZ Herald | File)
(Photo / NZ Herald | File)

"Fundamentally wrong": Council faces heat over proposed freedom camping bylaw

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Oct 2025, 8:46am

Fears a proposed bylaw to combat freedom camping in the Queenstown Lakes District could be a headache for Kiwis. 

The new bylaw goes before councillors this week and proposes 15 designated freedom camping sites for the district following a surge in freedom campers. 

People freedom camping in other areas could face fines of at least $400.  

New Zealand Motor Caravan Association's James Imlach says there was consultation from the council, but it wasn’t done well enough to get a plan that both protects the community and allows law-abiding people to camp in the district without causing harm. 

He told Mike Hosking it seems to have been a bit of a token gesture, as the proposed bylaw is very similar to what they’ve been trying to push for a number of years, and it seems like the council’s just trying to find a new way to get the same outcome. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you