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New Zealand Motor Caravan Association CEO Bruce Lochore has hailed the Government’s ‘commonsense decision’ to extend the time to get self-contained vehicles certified for freedom camping as a positive step forward for the country’s tourism industry.
His comments follow Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston’s announcement on Thursday, the Government has agreed to extend the certification transition period for private self-contained vehicles out by a year to June 7, 2026.
Currently only 23,000 vehicles of the estimated 73,000 privately-owned motorhomes and caravans have been certified.
Bruce says the Association sought the 12-month extension after the introduction of the new Regulations was held up for nine months. As a result, vehicle inspectors were only able to start certifying vehicles from October 1, 2024.
“We recognised immediately that the short lead-in time to the busy summer period was going to particularly hit the rental industry motorhome fleet, some 40 per cent of which we certify.
“Without that certification, international motorhome tourism would be severely impacted,” he sayas.
“So, we asked our members to hold off having their privately-owned vehicles certified (which to their credit, they did) while we concentrated on the rental fleets of such big-name operators as THL, Wilderness and McRent.”
Delighted with the outcome, which has seen international motorhome tourism again thriving in New Zealand over the summer, Bruce says it’s a win-win for everyone.
“Obviously COVID had a huge impact on the tourism industry and while our domestic motorhomers stepped up their travels, that in no way made up for the loss of the international motorhome tourists.
“Without them, tourism as a whole has been hard hit. Anyone who has travelled recently to areas like South Westland would know what I mean. The place is a ghost town with the closure of so many small businesses that sprung up to service the international travellers.
““Those cafes and shops did a great job providing services and places of interest for the visitors to experience our beautiful country. And as much as our domestic tourists have done their best to fill the gap, it hasn’t been enough.
“For businesses like that to thrive we need the vibrant mix of international and domestic visitors that we have seen again this summer.
“I like what our Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, says about us needing to become a country that says ‘yes’ to opportunities,” says Bruce.
“Too often in the past ‘no’ has become the default response – but, as this situation has shown, when we say ‘yes’ and work together, everyone wins.”
