Can you free camp New Zealand?
Can you free camp New Zealand? Freedom camping on DOC land is generally allowed, with some exceptions. There are some places on DOC land where you cannot camp because the site has a special value, for example, it's a Maori burial site (urupa) or a protected plant or animal is there.
Why is freedom camping an issue in New Zealand?
The biggest issue with these freedom camping rules is they vary between every local council, district, township, and city. This has made freedom camping in NZ more difficult to understand and the risk of fines much higher.