Self-contained campervans: the green warrant rules
Whether you can freedom camp in New Zealand depends on one card in the windscreen. The rules changed recently; this is what the regulator and the law now say.
The default rule
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, which runs the system, says by default, vehicles used for freedom camping on public land must be certified self-contained, unless a site is specifically designated for non-self-contained vehicles1. Freedom camping is generally permitted on public land unless local bylaws, notices or other legislation restrict or prohibit it1.
In a campground, holiday park or on private property, the self-containment requirements do not apply1. So a van that is not self-contained still works if every night is at a holiday park or a campground.
What counts as self-contained
- Toilet. A toilet permanently fixed to and usable within the vehicle, plus requirements for water supply, wastewater, ventilation, sink and rubbish storage1. A portable toilet in a cupboard no longer qualifies.
- Proof. A green warrant card displayed in the vehicle, with the details on the national SCV register1. Note that a green sticker is not what counts: the green warrant card, the certificate and the register entry are1.
- How long it lasts. Certification is valid for up to four years while the vehicle keeps meeting the requirements1.
Blue warrants are finished
From 7 June 2026, only vehicles certified with a green warrant are recognised as self-contained; old blue warrants cannot be used for freedom camping1. If you are buying or borrowing an older van, check the card colour and the register, not the sticker.
If you hire
The Board says rental companies are responsible for making sure their fleets are compliant1. Still check before you book: ask whether your van is certified self-contained, for how many people, and that the green warrant card is in the vehicle.
The fines
| Offence (council areas) | Infringement fee |
|---|---|
| Freedom camping in a vehicle that is not self-contained, where that is not allowed | $400 infringement fee (maximum fine $1,200) for freedom camping in a council area in a vehicle that is not self-contained, where that is not permitted2 |
| Breaking a council freedom camping bylaw | $400 infringement fee (maximum fine $1,200) for freedom camping in breach of a council bylaw2 |
| Not displaying the warrant card | $200 infringement fee (maximum fine $600) for not displaying the warrant card2 |
| More people than the vehicle is certified for | $400 for freedom camping with more people than the vehicle is certified for2 |
Hire companies usually pass fines on to the hirer, with an admin fee: check your rental terms.
Work out your own trip: open the campervan hire calculator. It starts with sourced defaults and leaves the rest for your quote.
Sources
- Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, Self-contained vehicles: private vehicle owners. Checked 31 October 2026.
- Freedom Camping (Penalties for Infringement Offences) Regulations 2023 (legislation.govt.nz). Checked 31 October 2026.