Earlier this year, we asked you what you thought about freedom camping in Tararua. You told us that freedom camping is part of the Kiwi way of life, and it's important that any changes protect that, not take it away.

Tararua District Council has developed a draft Freedom Camping Bylaw, with a focus on setting fair, simple rules that protect the places we all love.  This isn’t about taking the ‘freedom’ out of freedom camping. It’s about making camping safer, and make sure everyone — locals, visitors, and businesses — can enjoy the benefits.

Here’s how your feedback helped to shape what’s being proposed:

• You told us you value the ability to camp responsibly — we’ve focused on keeping sites accessible while making expectations clear for all users.
• You raised concerns about bad behaviour from a minority — the bylaw proposes practical steps to manage those rare issues without punishing responsible campers.
• You highlighted the need for fairness — we’re proposing a bylaw that welcomes freedom camping while putting commonsense limits in place to protect public spaces.

This work is being funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and it’s an important step to future-proof how freedom camping happens in Tararua:

✅ Locals can enjoy cleaner, safer public spaces.

✅ Visitors feel welcome knowing where and how they can camp.

✅ Businesses benefit from responsible tourism that supports the local economy.

Make a submission and share your feedback:

Public consultation on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw for the Tararua District opens Monday 19 May and will close on Friday 20 June 2025.

🔗 Read the full draft bylaw and make your official submission online at www.tararuadc.govt.nz/consultation

📝 Prefer paper? Pick up a paper copy at any of our Council offices or libraries in Dannevirke, Eketāhuna, Pahiatua, or Woodville.