Freedom camping is one of the most peaceful experiences you can have while owning a recreational vehicle. But if you want to camp away from commercial campgrounds, your motorhome almost always needs to be a certified self-contained vehicle.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about certified self-containment, including the current standard and most recent amendments to the regulations. We also look at the different types of self-contained certification, how to get your motorhome certified and share some maintenance tips and checks to help your RV stay compliant.
What is a certified self-contained motorhome?
In New Zealand, a certified self-contained (CSC) motorhome can operate independently — without needing external water or waste disposal facilities for at least three days.
The benefits of self-containment certification
A motorhome that’s CSC offers several valuable benefits, as outlined below.
Legal access to freedom camping spots
Ensuring your motorhome is CSC lets you legally stay overnight at designated freedom camping locations across New Zealand. These include Department of Conservation (DOC) sites and local council areas.
You’ll enjoy that added freedom of camping away from crowds — falling asleep under infinite starlight and waking up to isolated beach sunrises.
Opportunity to save money
The term freedom camping was coined for a reason — because when you freedom camp, it’s almost always free. You can significantly cut your overall touring expenses by saving money on accommodation. Holding the correct certification and following the local freedom camping rules will also help you avoid unwanted fines.
Greater community acceptance
Investing your time and energy to ensure your RV meets the CSC standards shows your commitment to the local communities you visit while freedom camping in NZ. It demonstrates that you take responsible camping practices seriously — helping maintain access to freedom camping locations for the foreseeable future.
More sustainable travel
Being self-sufficient reduces your dependence on other resources, allows you to manage your waste responsibly, lessens your impact on the environment and helps preserve New Zealand’s natural ecosystem.
Independence
You’ll be able to enjoy the pride, convenience and comfort of looking after yourself without having to use campground facilities.
Learn more about freedom camping.
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The self-contained vehicle register
The self-contained motor vehicles register is an NZ database of all motorhomes, campervans and caravans certified as self-contained under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (PGDB). It’s essentially the official record of vehicles that meet the required standards for freedom camping in New Zealand.
If your motorhome isn’t visible on the self-contained vehicle register, an enforcement officer could fine you while freedom camping — regardless of whether you have a green warrant card.
You can search the register to see whether an RV is on it by entering the vehicle registration number, VIN, or chassis number. |
New Zealand’s self-containment Standard
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The self-containment Standard NZS 5465:2001 sets out how to contain wastewater and solid waste. It aims to solve the key issue of freedom camping in a recreational vehicle without releasing waste into the environment.
Key takeaways from the Standard
The Standard helps ensure your motorhome is a liveable and sanitary space by defining what’s required for water supply, waste management, ventilation and rubbish storage. Here, we run through the main points in New Zealand’s self-containment Standard.
Motorhome water supply
Your fresh water tank must contain at least four litres per passenger per day — for a minimum of three days. So, if you’re freedom camping with your partner and two kids, you’ll need a tank that can hold a minimum of 48 litres of fresh water.
Motorhome waste management
Freedom camping comes with responsibility — and managing your waste is a big part of that. To be certified as self-contained, your motorhome is required to have a:
- Grey water tank — which can hold four litres per passenger per day for at least three days and has a vent that terminates outside your motorhome so that foul odours can escape
- Wastewater tank — that’s able to store at least one litre of waste per passenger per day for a minimum of three days and is usable within your RV when the bed is made
- Evacuation hose — also known as a discharge hose, it’s used to empty your grey water tank and should be at least three metres long
- Sealable solid waste container — a rubbish bin with a lid to contain the waste and odours.
Common motorhome plumbing layout
Overall, the Standard lets you freedom camp in certain designated areas while helping to protect the country's pristine natural beauty by minimising any negative community and environmental impacts.
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The essential little things
The NZ Standard for the self-containment of motor caravans and caravans outlines what your motorhome must have to become CSC. The major takeaways are around water supply and waste management, as noted above, but other requirements for drainage, plumbing and ventilation are also important, such as:
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Recent amendments to the CSC Standard
The search for an improved self-containment system began some years ago when councils and communities took their concerns to the Government regarding the poor behaviour of some freedom campers and increased pressure on public infrastructure.
As a result, in early 2021, the Government began exploring solutions to address these problems — including legislative reform. Significant changes to New Zealand's self-containment Standard eventually came into effect in 2023 and are slowly being phased in.
Mandatory fixed toilets
Only permanently fixed toilets can be certified as self-contained — meaning portable toilets aren’t acceptable anymore. The reason for this change is to improve waste management and minimise the environmental impact of freedom camping.
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Mandatory fixed toilets timeline
7 June 2023 The legislation comes into effect. 7 June 2023 — 7 June 2024 Your RV needs to have a permanent fixed toilet to obtain a blue CSC warrant. 7 June 2023 — 7 June 2025 (or current CSC warrant expiry) Your existing blue CSC warrant stays valid until the 2025 cutoff date or the expiry date of your existing certification — whichever arrives first. From 8 June 2025 Your motorhome must have a permanent fixed toilet from this date to get a new green CSC warrant. |
Increased oversight and enforcement
The blue warrant has been replaced with the green one, and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board now oversees CSC recreational vehicle regulation.
The reason for this change is to ensure consistency in applying the Standard, improve the quality of certifications, enforce it more strictly and better protect the environment.
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Increased oversight and enforcement timeline
7 December 2023 A self-contained RV register is set up, and you can now get a green CSC warrant under the new requirements. |
Browse over the current law — the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023.
Historical amendments to the Standard
In 2012, the Standard was revised to align with the Freedom Camping Act 2011. A recognisable sticker was enforced to more easily identify CSC motorhomes and campervans that met the Standard.
The requirement for toilets in self-contained vehicles was then strengthened in 2017. The amendment was intended to improve sanitation and stop inappropriate disposal of human waste. The change stated that all onboard toilets, whether portable or fixed, must have a minimum capacity of three litres per passenger and be usable when the bed is made.
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To ventilate or not to ventilate
The recently proposed law changes to self-contained vehicles also required RV cassette toilet holding tanks to be ventilated directly outside. New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) members were concerned with the cost and time needed to get almost 60,000 private RVs up to this standard.
The Government listened to the industry and amended the proposal to relieve RV owners of spending additional money installing ventilation kits to get a green warrant.
As a result of the amendment, if your motorhome has a toilet cassette, you won’t need to ensure it ventilates outside. Only permanently fixed wastewater storage tanks must be directly ventilated to the motorhome’s exterior. |
Types of self-contained certification for motorhomes
During this transitional period, there are three CSC warranty cards you need to know about. The colour of each card indicates the type of certification.
Green CSC warrant
The green warrant is now the new Standard for CSC motorhomes in New Zealand. It has to be issued by a certification authority approved by the PGDB. The certification authority must meet the requirements of the board’s 2006 and 2023 regulations for self-contained vehicles.
Your new green warrant card is valid for four years.
Blue CSC warrant
If you already own a recreational vehicle, you’ll be familiar with the blue warrant. It was issued under the NZS 5465:2001 Self-Containment Standard.
It’s important to note that no new blue warrants are being issued.
However, your current blue warrant is still valid until its expiry date, or 7 June 2025 — whichever comes first. After this date, your self-contained RV must meet the new regulations and have a green warrant.
Yellow CSC warrant
The yellow warrant is slightly different because the NZMCA issues it under its own certification programme for its members.
This warrant is for RVs with portable toilets or vehicles not intended for freedom camping. It’s valid when camping at NZMCA parks and events but may also be accepted at some private campgrounds but not by enforcement officers visiting freedom camping locations.
The yellow warrant card is valid for ten years.
On display to show compliance
The green, blue or yellow warrant card comes with a self-containment certificate. To show that your RV complies with the Standard, make sure you:
- Display the CSC warrant card — on your motorhome’s front windscreen
- Keep the self-containment certificate inside your recreational vehicle — in case an enforcement officer requests it.
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More changes to come? The Government is currently considering a proposal by the NZMCA to extend the 7 June 2025 deadline for needing a green warrant by 12 months — until June 2026. |
How to get your motorhome certified
Getting your motorhome certified self-contained with a new green warrant is necessary to utilise freedom camping areas legally.
1. Check your RV meets the new Standard
Before you schedule a time with an issuing authority or testing officer, review everything required to get a self-containment certification. Check that your fixed toilet, fresh water tank, grey water tank, sink with water trap, evacuation hose and sealed rubbish container all meet the new 2023 Standard.
2. Find a certification authority
Search for a qualified self-containment testing officer or certification authority that operates in your region and can inspect and certify your motorhome.
The NZMCA is a well-known issuing authority, so you can access its network of inspectors if you're a member. NZ Lifestyle Camping is a reputable organisation with over 100 green warrant-qualified testing officers.
You can also hire a registered plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer who is an issuing authority.
3. Schedule an inspection
Contact your preferred issuing authority or testing officer and organise an appointment. Make sure your RV is clean and accessible for an inspection — and that you have the vehicle’s documentation on hand.
4. Complete the certification process
The qualified self-containment testing officer will thoroughly examine your motorhome to ensure it complies with the new requirements. You’ll pay the inspection fee to the testing officer during your RV’s inspection or shortly after.
If your RV passes the inspection, the testing officer will issue your motorhome’s self-containment certificate.
You’ll also need to pay the government levy to the PGDB — and your testing officer can explain how to go about this. Paying the levy ensures your motorhome is added to the self-contained motor vehicles register.
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The cost of freedom camping
The self-contained certification government levy is a flat $120. This money contributes to the admin cost of New Zealand’s self-containment certification scheme — which includes processing applications, maintaining the register and enforcing the regulations.
The inspection cost can vary from $60 to $150 and is affected by the complexity of the inspection, any necessary remedial work, and the testing officer’s location and travel time. |
5. Receive your green warrant card
Once the government levy has been paid, the PGDB will process your application and post your motorhome’s green warrant card by mail.
6. Display the certification
Your green warrant card should be displayed on the inside of your motorhome’s front windscreen — so it’s easily visible. In addition, store the self-containment certificate inside your RV so it’s on hand in case you need it.
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Buying from a dealer If you purchase a new or used motorhome from a reputable dealer, you should expect its self-containment certification to be arranged before collecting your vehicle. |
Maintenance tips and checks for staying CSC compliant
Preventative maintenance can keep your certification valid before going through the self-containment certificate process again. A few tips to keep in mind are to:
- Use only clean drinking water in your fresh water tank — and replace any water filters every six months to two years, depending on the type
- Add a wastewater treatment to your wastewater tank — like Thetford’s Aqua Kem Green Concentrate to prevent bacteria from growing inside
- Avoid washing food waste down your sink drain — as scraps can easily get stuck in the pipe and smell foul
- Fix any issues quickly — especially ones that involve leaks or odours, to avoid further damage
- Store your fresh water and grey water hoses in separate containers — and ensure they’re food-grade quality
- Keep a logbook — to detail your annual checks, maintenance and repairs related to your self-containment system.
While a formal reinspection is required every four years for your motorhome’s green warrant, more regular checks are essential. Look for leaks to ensure everything is functioning correctly and your RV continues to manage waste as expected.
Run through this checklist every three to six months:
- Toilet, shower and sink — check for any signs of dampness from water damage
- Fresh water, grey water and wastewater tanks, plus the hoses and connection points — look for any cracks
- Water pump, shower and toilet — run them to ensure they’re working correctly without leaks or blockages.
It’s also important to empty and clean your motorhome tanks a few times a year to prevent any buildup of odours or algae.
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Comply and avoid a fine
If an enforcement officer catches you breaching a freedom camping bylaw, you’ll likely get fined between $200 and $2,400 — depending on the offence and severity of the breach.
Understand the current freedom camping infringement offences and penalties. |
If you enjoy freedom camping and want to be closer to nature, your motorhome needs self-contained certification — to legally allow you to freedom camp. CSC helps you avoid fines and move towards more responsible and sustainable camping.
See our range of certified self-contained motorhomes for sale.
