Christchurch City Council has voted to permanently ban freedom camping for campervans without toilets on board. The temporary ban was introduced after the 2015 local regulations failed to cope with an influx of tourists, leading to overcrowding and conflicts with residents. The permanent ban will affect five sites where parking was previously allowed, regardless of toilet availability. Owners of campervans with toilets will be able to park elsewhere, while those without will be completely banned in Christchurch and on the Banks Peninsula.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is considering three options for regulating freedom camping at Allenby Place and Beacon Point Road car parks in Wanaka. The temporary ban at Allenby Place, introduced in December 2025 due to access and safety issues, has been extended until 31 January 2027. During the 2025/2026 summer season, approximately 28,000 freedom camping nights were recorded on council-managed land, with 2,311 infringement notices issued under the Freedom Camping Act 2011.