The responsible camping issues continues to be divisive, not just within the backpacker and wider tourism sector but within communities throughout New Zealand. For this reason we acknowledge that implementation of consistent nationwide policy by central government is unlikely to occur and that councils will implement policy as they feel best meets the needs of their region. The BYATA advocacy team are available to assist members with approach to councils.

In the meantime we applaud central governments funding initiative to assist regions to provide adequate infrastructure, and we will continue to monitor progress.

TIA Responsible Camping - Policy Position

TIA spearheads the New Zealand Responsible Camping Forum to help manage community, social and environmental issues around freedom camping. The Forum has around 60 members from the private sector and central and local government.

Campers are an important sector of New Zealand's tourism industry. They travel widely through the country, tend to stay a long time and spend money on a wide range of goods and activities.

The Responsible Camping Forum was set up by TIA in 2007. Since then the Forum has succeeded in achieving a unified stance on how best to manage freedom camping in New Zealand. While some degree of enforcement is required, we can reduce that through education and helping campers embrace the principle of Kaitiakitanga (social and environmental responsibility).

Responsible Camping Working Group

The Responsible Camping Working Group includes representatives from local and central government, and tourism sector agencies.