New green warrants for self-contained freedom camping vehicles will come into effect in June, bringing stricter rules for campervan and caravan owners across New Zealand.

Under the new regulations, vehicles must have a fixed toilet permanently attached to the vehicle, a 24-litre wastewater tank, at least four litres of fresh water per person per day for a minimum of three days, and a rubbish bin with at least 1 litre of capacity per person staying in the vehicle.

Anyone found camping without the green warrant in freedom camping areas after June 6 will be fined $400 by the council, and up to $2500 if found dumping on DoC land.

The new warrants come into effect on June 7, and vehicle owners are being encouraged to upgrade before the deadline, particularly those whose current blue self-containment warrants are due to expire soon. Existing blue warrants will remain valid until June 6; after then, owners will need to meet the new standards.

Approved inspection centres can be found through the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers board’s website. For those in the Eastern Bay, Ōpōtiki Gas Fitting is the nearest certification provider.

Owner and operator of Ōpōtiki Gas Fittings, Richard Kemeny, said that owners should get their green licences sooner rather than later.

“When June comes, everyone’s going to be rushing to get their green card, and it will take longer when everyone is rushing.”

The new rules apply to converted vans, campervans, caravans, motorhomes, and rental vehicles that are used for freedom camping.

The new laws are to stop people from using the bushes and open spaces as their bathrooms, said Mr Kemeny.

“They’re to stop people [defecating] in bushes.”

Mr Kemeny said the whole process takes around two hours, and that at the end, if you pass, you get the green card and registration pocket to display on the front window.

The changes were originally scheduled to come into effect in June 2025, but were delayed until 2026 due to low public awareness of the new requirements.