80-year-old freedom camper fined $400 for staying put in wild weather

A fire in Titahi Bay, Wellington, on Saturday evening destroyed a home and several caravans, and damaged a neighbouring property. Strong winds caused the blaze to spread rapidly. Eight fire trucks responded to the incident at around 5:50 pm. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Fire and Emergency and police.

An overseas buyer paid $45m for Hahei Beach Resort on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, with approval from the Overseas Investment Office. Tasman Tourism New Zealand, a joint venture between an Australian private equity firm and a UAE-based investment company, also bought Raglan Sunset Motel for $5m. Both properties were sold by New Zealand investment group Hahei Beach Limited, which purchased them in 2015 for $13.25m and $3.88m respectively.

A consortium bidding for Tourism Holdings, a campervan rental and sales company operating in New Zealand, Australia, and North America, sees higher value than the market. After a peak in 2023, the company faces a downturn.

A pickup towing a caravan rolled over on State Highway 1 in Wellington around 11:30 on Thursday. The northbound lane was closed but reopened by 1:00 PM. No injuries were reported.

From June 7, blue self-containment warrants for freedom camping will no longer be valid. Vehicle owners must switch to the new green warrant system by June 6. Camping on public land without a green warrant may result in a $400 infringement notice. The transition period, which began in December 2023, ends with over 68,000 vehicles already certified under the new system.

Starting June 7, 2026, new regulations for motorhomes used for freedom camping take effect in New Zealand. Traditional blue self-containment certificates are being replaced by 'green stickers,' which require a fixed toilet. A fine of NZ$400 applies for not having the green sticker.