Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

RV Certification Voluntary And Unenforceable

This year has seen a marked increase in complaints about the Self Containment Certification for Caravans and Motor Caravans. Self Containment Certification specifies that an RV must have certain facilities like tanks for fresh and dirty water, rubbish bin and a toilet. It is about management of waste, not personal hygiene.

While Responsible Campers Association Incorporated (RCAi) has often been at the front line exposing the many faults and non-compliant aspects of the standard, other outdoor recreational groups have added weight to the concerns exposed by RCAi. Of particular concern is that Councils are being constantly lobbied by RV groups to use self containment certification as a limitation against all Freedom Campers.

Between allegations of scams, farces and other unlawful agenda’s being driven by Self Containment Certification, we look at what it really comes down to and the big question

Is it legally enforceable?

Up until 2012, Ministry of the Environment (MfE) had held the position of Administrative Authority for the Standard - their role was to appoint testing officers and Issuing Authorities for the Certification. 

During the establishment of the Freedom Camping Act, the Standard was promoted by a private RV organization for inclusion but failed on many points - some being that it was non-compliant with the Bill Of Rights Act (BORA) as it related to proportionality as it was only available for a small minority group of Freedom Campers being defined by the Act. The Act covers many modes o camping like tents, bivouacs, Motor vehicles as well as the more common RV’s - the later group being the only ones capable of being certified as self contained.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Six months after the Act was passed without the inclusion of self containment certification, the MfE had made the necessary changes to the Standard to enable them to cease their role as administrator. RV Clubs and businesses could from then on appoint their own Testers and become their own Issuing Authorities. In response to an 2014 Official Information Application, MfE stated “Certification is not mandatory, so there is no Government oversight or enforcement of the certification process. Voluntary standards are not enforceable”. (1)

A additionally NZStandards themselves state that “a Standard is not, of itself mandatory or legally required. A Standard has to be incorporated by reference in an Act or delegated legislation in order to be mandatory. Once referenced, it becomes part of the technical regulation framework.”.

Remember that even with extensive lobbying the Self Containment Standard was never included in the Freedom camping Act so remains unenforceable

Councils can write the standard NZS;5465 into as many Bylaws as they like - but that still fails to make it enforceable in law.

Meantime RCAi and outdoor groups are left wondering just what problems it was that the Standard was ever suppose to solve, as it provides no education with the sole focus being the facilities in a RV. Meantime the majority of campers that can not even meet the requirements of the Standard, go about their recreational activities and Freedom Camping with out the complaints often heard about that minority group in RV’s.

Spokesman for Responsible Campers Association Inc, Bob Osborne states “ RCAi will expose non-compliance aspects of Freedom Camping, whether that is Certified Self Containment, site specific camping or any other aspect. Our focus is to educate campers in what is expected of them as that applies for all Freedom Campers regardless of modes or club affiliations. We lobby to make camping fair for everyone not just the minority group in RV’s. Traditional Camping in Tents is a ‘right’ - Glamping in RV’s not so much”. The Freedom Camping Act covers all in a manner which is also fair and encompasses every imaginable scenario - the problem is Councils enacting non-compliant aspects of Bylaws”.

1/

https://fyi.org.nz/request/6988/response/24942/attach/html/7/06%20freedom%20camping%20standard.pdf.html?fbclid=IwAR15ptVaAPG4yYWesR0KJ4rNvhkwW0cKMRMgIbwVMXg6GU6bk2jL-zoseE0

2/ https://fyi.org.nz/request/6988/response/24942/attach/html/7/06%20freedom%20camping%20standard.pdf.html?fbclid=IwAR15ptVaAPG4yYWesR0KJ4rNvhkwW0cKMRMgIbwVMXg6GU6bk2jL-zoseE0

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.