Thames-Coromandel District Council's new Freedom Camping Bylaw is now in effect.

Freedom Camping is permitted in most public areas unless it is prohibited or restricted in our new bylaw, Department of Conservation rules or national legislation.

Council's compliance team will be out seven days a week monitoring the district for compliance with the new bylaw, says a post on the Thames-Coromandel District Council Facebook page.

The new bylaw is on its website at www.tcdc.govt.nz/freedomcamping.

It applies to areas Council manages.

If you want to freedom camp in our district:

- Please be a responsible camper and clean up after yourself;

- Use proper toilet facilities such as public toilets and campervan dump stations;

- Look for our signs showing where freedom camping can take place.

In areas managed by our Council, people can only freedom camp:

- In a certified self-contained vehicle (freedom camping is not allowed in tents);

- Between 5pm and 9am for two consecutive nights unless otherwise sign-posted.

Freedom camping is prohibited in 84 areas, most of which are Council reserves or roads.

"These prohibited areas are listed in Schedule 1 of the bylaw. Freedom camping is also prohibited on other Council reserves under the Reserves Act 1977," says a spokesperson for the council.

"Freedom camping is restricted in 25 other areas, mostly reserves, where freedom camping can only take place within a sign-posted designated place for a maximum number of vehicles. These restricted areas are listed in Schedule 2 of the bylaw.

"Our bylaw also contains maps that show the locations of the prohibited and restricted areas grouped by the Community Board area they are in.

"We now have improved signage around the district to help visitors identify proper freedom camping locations. We will also have Responsible Camping Ambassadors out and about over summer helping freedom campers make the most of their stay while being good visitors.

"This, plus potential future amendments to our new bylaw made necessary by the Self-Contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill now before Parliament, are being funded by a grant of $246,186 from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment."

www.tcdc.govt.nz/freedomcamping