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Napier City Freedom Camping Bylaw 2024

We’re taking a fresh look at our Freedom Camping Bylaw to make sure it’s still working well for everyone. This review covers everything from underused spots to overcrowded areas, the impact on our environment, and community feedback on current camping rules. Let us know what you think!

What is the Freedom Camping Bylaw?

The Freedom Camping Bylaw regulates where and how people can camp on public land in Napier. It ensures that freedom camping does not harm the environment, interfere with public access, or cause public safety concerns. The bylaw currently outlines designated camping areas, restrictions on vehicle types, and rules for waste disposal, noise, and length of stay.

Why is the Bylaw Being Reviewed?

Napier City Council is reviewing the Freedom Camping Bylaw to ensure it remains effective in managing freedom camping activities. The review will address issues such as underutilised areas, overcrowding, environmental impacts, and community feedback about current camping regulations.

What are the Key Changes Being Considered?

As part of the Freedom Camping Bylaw review, three options were considered:

Option 1: Status Quo

Continue with the Current Bylaw This option would retain the four existing freedom camping sites: Pump Track, Perfume Point, Westshore, and Foreshore. Westshore, currently closed temporarily, would be reopened, and Foreshore would be limited to self-contained vehicles only, keeping the bylaw structure as is.

Option 2: Remove Low-Ranking Sites

Under this option, Westshore and Foreshore—identified as lower-ranked sites due to suitability and public use—would be closed to freedom camping.

Option 3: Remove Low-Ranking Sites and Add a High-Ranking Site(s)

This option involves closing the Westshore and Foreshore sites due to lower suitability, while introducing a new, higher-ranked site(s) from the site assessment, such as the National Aquarium Carpark or other suitable locations.

Our Proposed Changes

We are recommending Option 3 in the draft bylaw, with the following updates:

  • Remove low-ranking sites like Westshore and Foreshore to address environmental and safety concerns.
  • Add a high-ranking site(s) to meet demand more effectively. The National Aquarium Carpark has been identified as the highest-ranking new site.
  • Restrict freedom camping to self-contained vehicles only in alignment with new national direction.

Why This Approach?

  • Protecting the Environment and Public Health: Closing less suitable sites ensures that camping activities take place only in locations that can support them sustainably.
  • Improving the Camping Experience: Adding a high-ranking site will help meet demand while reducing pressure on other locations.
  • Aligning with National Policy: Limiting freedom camping to self-contained vehicles reflects the new national stance.

You can find out more about our proposal in the Statement of Proposal.

You can also read the draft bylaw here.

How to have your say

We've provided a number of ways for people to have their say on Napier's Freedom Camping Bylaw. 

If you need assistance or would like a full copy of the document, please visit our Customer Service Centre, Napier Library, or Taradale Library, where our friendly teams are ready to help.

Ways to submit:

  • Online: Fill out the online submission form here.
  • Email: Send your feedback to info@napier.govt.nz.
  • Post: Address it to Freedom Camping Bylaw Review, Napier City Council, Private Bag 6010, Napier 4142.
  • In person: Drop it off at the Customer Service Centre, or at Napier or Taradale Libraries.

Make sure to have your say by 5pm, Friday 29 November. You can also request to present your views in person at a Council hearing in February 2025.

Freedom Camping Bylaw Frequently Asked Questions

Napier prides itself on being a tourist town and one of Council’s five strategic objectives, adopted in 2023, is for Napier to be a ‘great visitor destination’. Freedom camping is welcome in parts of the city through the current Freedom Camping Bylaw.

The purpose of the Bylaw is to control freedom camping in Napier in order to:

  • Protect the area 
  • Protect the health and safety of people who may visit the area 
  • Protect access to the area.  

An existing bylaw must be reviewed every ten years. Napier’s current Bylaw was last reviewed in 2017. You can view it here.

The 2024 Bylaw review is an opportunity to ensure the bylaw is still effective and to consider recent changes under the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023. The review will also reassess the temporary closure of the Westshore Beach Reserve site, which was closed in 2021 due to community concerns.

Napier has three designated freedom camping sites with a total of 57 spaces:

  • Pump Track on Marine Parade (near Ellison Street) – 45 spaces
  • Foreshore Reserve carpark off SH51 – 8 spaces
  • Te Karaka/Perfume Point in Ahuriri – 4 spaces

Westshore Beach Reserve, which has four spaces, is currently closed.

The Westshore site was temporarily closed in 2021 due to complaints from nearby residents and ongoing compliance issues. A decision about whether to close it permanently will be part of this bylaw review process.

Any decision to close an existing freedom camping site or establish a new one will only be made after consulting with the community. During the consultation process, the Council will gather and review all submissions, and those who wish to speak to their submission will have the opportunity to do so at a public hearing.

Once the consultation period is complete, Council officers will analyze the feedback, assess the implications of closing or opening sites, and consider factors like costs and community impact. A final decision will be made by the elected Council members based on this analysis and community input.

Napier City Council acknowledges community concerns about the increased number of people experiencing homelessness in Napier, including those using freedom camping sites. The closure of a freedom camping site in Napier would not impact people experiencing homelessness, as they are not subject to enforcement under the Freedom Camping Act. These laws are specifically focused on managing freedom camping for travellers and visitors in self-contained vehicles only.

No, concerns about homelessness fall outside of the scope of the Freedom Camping Bylaw. Homelessness is a significant challenge faced by many cities around Aotearoa that takes on many forms with people rough sleeping and living in their vehicles. This complex social issue requires a multi-agency response and community compassion.

The presence of homeless individuals in public spaces, including freedom camping sites, is not illegal, so enforcement is not appropriate. Our Napier Assist, Āwhina Tangata team works closely with a range of agencies to connect vulnerable people with support services and discourage anti-social behaviour. Our public spaces are for everyone to enjoy, and we will not tolerate aggressive, anti-social, obstructive, unhygienic, or unsafe behaviour in any of our shared spaces, including freedom camping sites.

As discussed, freedom camping laws and infringements cannot be applied to people experiencing homelessness. Napier City Council continues to work with a range of agencies and community organisations to respond to homelessness. Council staff monitoring these sites complete welfare checks and can make referrals to social support agencies when appropriate.

If you have concerns about someone who may be experiencing homelessness or if you have concern over someone sleeping rough or would like to seek information on how to support someone experiencing homelessness:

Call NCC Customer Service Centre 06 835 7579 (public spaces only). Call Whatever it Takes Trust 06 835 2154 or email team@witservices.co.nz.

 

Intimidating, aggressive or anti-social behavior?

Call NZ Police 105 (non-emergency, already happened) 111 (emergency, happening now).

We have provided a number of ways for people to have their say on Napier's Freedom Camping Bylaw. 

If you need assistance or would like a full copy of the document, please visit our Customer Service Centre, Napier Library, or Taradale Library, where our friendly teams are ready to help.

Ways to submit:

  • Online: Fill out the online submission form here.
  • Email: Send your feedback to info@napier.govt.nz.
  • Post: Address it to Freedom Camping Bylaw Review, Napier City Council, Private Bag 6010, Napier 4142.
  • In person: Drop it off at the Customer Service Centre, or at Napier or Taradale Libraries.

Make sure to have your say by 5pm, Friday 29 November. You can also request to present your views in person at a Council hearing in February 2025.

Do you want to hear from us more often and have your say on other Napier projects?

Join our People's Panel

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