This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Tourism Impact'.
All: S9(2)(a)
From:
To:

"[email address]"
Cc:
Info at MfE
Subject:
freedom camping standard
Date:
Friday, 21 March 2014 10:11:12 a.m.
Attachments:
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Hi Electra
Thank you for your interest in caravan self-containment.
Not “anyone” can be an issuing authority – the revised standard requires either a registered plumber or an
organisation that has a scheme of qualification for testing officers. The standard requires that anyone can ask for
documentation of this qualification scheme as evidence that testing officers are competent to certify to the
Standard. If you find someone who can show neither their certified plumber documentation nor qualification
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scheme evidence, then I suggest it would be unwise to hire them to do self-containment certification.
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Certification is not mandatory, so there is no government oversight or enforcement of the certification process.
Voluntary standards are not enforceable.
The enforcement connection comes from use of the certificate by local authorities as an indicator of self-
containment when they enforce their freedom camping bylaws made under the Freedom Camping Act 2011
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2011/0061/latest/whole.html . This is use by councils is also voluntary
– the Act does not refer to the Standard. It is however a useful tool for council staff seeking to ensure people are
not staying overnight in public places without adequate toilet facilities.
The term ‘inspector’ is not relevant under the Standard so yes, please read that as ‘testing officer’.
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Please feel free to contact me directly if this does not answer your questions.
All the best with your journey around New Zealand.
Regards
Official 
– Senior Analyst, Waste and Resources
Ministry for the Environment – Manatu Mo Te Taiao
the 
DDI: 04 439 7790  Website: www.mfe.govt nz<http://www.mfe.govt nz/>   23 Kate Sheppard Place, PO Box
10362, Wellington 6143
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P Please consider the environment before printing this email
under 
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From: Stellography [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Monday, 10 March 2014 10:25 a m.
To: Info at MfE
Subject: Re: http://www mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste/freedom-camping/
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Are you saying anyone can set themselves up as an issuing authority then?
If MfE no longer approves anyone then who looks out for the standard being enforced correctly?
So if I stumble across a website that says they do testing, and they are not a plumber or a NZMCA inspector
then they are the only people that have to provide documentation (whatever that means) to the public?
When you use the word inspector does that mean the same as testing officer?
Thanks
On 10/03/14 10:06, Info at MfE wrote:
Hello Electra,

In reply to your email of 6 March 2014.
Any plumber or other suitably qualified person registered under the Plumber, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act
1976 is eligible to certify compliance with NZS 5465:2001 standard.
The standard also provides for other entities to be “issuing authorities” if they have a suitable scheme of
qualification for testing officers.
However, with the March 2012 amendment to the standard the Ministry for the Environment no longer
approves these bodies.
Issuing authorities will now need to document their training scheme on a public website and provide
documentation for inspectors to show to clients on request.
Regards
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From: Stellography [mailto:[email address]]
Act 
Sent: Thursday, 6 March 2014 6:13 p m.
To: Info at MfE
Subject: Re: http://www mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste/freedom-camping/
Thanks but I was hoping to get a complete list, of independent certifiers and not rely on the monopoly the
NZMCA has.
I noticed that some of those on the list you compiled 2 years ago were no longer around, that's why I asked.
Information 
On 06/03/14 17:40, Info at MfE wrote:
Hello Electra
A copy of the relevant standard, Self-Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans, NZS 5465:2001 is
published and sold by Standards New Zealand, www.standards.co nz<www.standards.co nz%20>.
Official 
As of right, all registered plumbers may certify to the standard but they need to check that the caravan or
motorhome complies with the standard in all respects.
the 
The NZ Motor Caravan Association has the best nationwide certification network and an updated list of their
self-containment inspectors on their website. Please see http://www nzmca.org nz/self-containment/.
Regards
under 
Executive Relations Team
Ministry for the Environment – Manatu Mo Te Taiao
Website: www.mfe.govt nz<http://www.mfe.govt nz>
23 Kate Sheppard Place, PO Box 10362,
WELLINGTON 6143
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From: Stellography [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Sunday, 2 March 2014 2:25 p.m.
To: Info at MfE
Subject: http://www mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste/freedom-camping/
Hi folks
I was looking up self-containment and stumbled upon your website url above.
Can you please tell me where I may get the most up-to-date list of issuing authorities please?

Thanks,
Electra
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