Christchurch City Council has approved a 10-year lease that could allow the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) to establish a motorhome park on vacant red-zoned land in New Brighton, Christchurch.
The decision gives the association a path to develop a members-only site for up to 100 motorhomes and caravans at 60 to 80 Owles Terrace. Visitors would be permitted to stay for up to 10 days within any 30-day period. The proposal remains subject to the resource consent process and other requirements before the park can begin operating.
The site was first identified as a potential location after the NZMCA approached Christchurch City Council in November 2024 about using vacant red-zoned land. The association had previously pointed to the success of its park in nearby Kaiapoi as a model for using otherwise underutilized land for short-term motorhome stays. The New Brighton proposal would be restricted to NZMCA members traveling in certified self-contained motorhomes and caravans.
Initial plans call for a relatively basic facility, with potential amenities including rubbish bins, potable water and, if feasible, a wastewater dump station. The proposed lease area would be between approximately 5,000 and 10,000 square meters within a larger area of roughly 37,700 square meters, according to NewstalkZB.
The NZMCA previously said most stays at its parks typically last one or two nights, despite the proposed 10-day maximum. The association also indicated that guests would be expected to follow rules governing behavior and generator use. The final access arrangements and other site details are expected to be developed as the planning process progresses.
Christchurch Coastal Ward Councillor Celeste Donovan said the council’s approval was an initial step, with resource consent still to be addressed.
“The way forward should be pretty straightforward from there – of course, the council can always get in the way, but I think there is support for the proposal across the council.”
The proposal has potential implications for the local visitor economy as well as for existing accommodation businesses. The NZMCA said in June that motorhome visitors could spend money in nearby businesses and that some guests could use local holiday parks for facilities such as showers, kitchens and laundry that would not be provided at the proposed site.
For campground operators, that suggests a members-only low-cost park could function alongside traditional holiday parks rather than necessarily replacing them, particularly if visitors use established businesses for amenities and activities.
The development also illustrates how councils and tourism organizations are considering temporary or transitional uses for land that is not currently suitable for conventional development. The New Brighton site is part of an area affected by Christchurch’s earthquake-related red zoning, making the proposed use dependent on planning, land-use and site-specific requirements.
In June, the NZMCA said it hoped the park could open during the 2026-27 summer season, although it considered late 2027 a more realistic timeframe if resource consent was required. Residents were previously given until July 15, 2026, to provide feedback on the proposal.
For operators in the caravan and outdoor hospitality sectors, the project is also relevant as Christchurch’s existing freedom-camping rules already place restrictions on stays in the New Brighton area. A dedicated motorhome facility would provide an alternative for eligible travelers seeking a managed place to stay, while giving the council and NZMCA greater control over capacity, access and visitor behavior.