What You Need for a Green Warrant (Self-Containment Certificate) in New Zealand

If you want to freedom camp legally in New Zealand, your vehicle must now comply with the new self-containment rules in NZ introduced under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers (Self-Contained Vehicles) Regulations 2023.

These rules replaced the old “blue sticker” system and require vehicles to meet higher standards—particularly around toilets, tanks, and ventilation.

A certified campervan must prove it can operate independently for at least three days without outside facilities: storing fresh water, managing waste, and providing safe sanitation.

Quick Checklist

To qualify for a Green Warrant and self contained sticker, your vehicle must have:

1. Fresh-water storage system
   

2. Waste-water (grey + black) system and off-loading mechanism
   

3. Sufficient capacity for three days per person
   

4. Fixed toilet usable inside the vehicle
   

5. Sink plumbed to the waste-water tank
   

6. Ventilation system

7. Secure rubbish storage
   

Each system must function for a minimum of three days for the number of people the vehicle is certified for.

Fresh Water System

To be certified self-contained, your campervan’s water system must store and deliver potable water securely and hygienically.

To comply with New Zealand’s self-containment regulations, your water system must meet the following technical standards.

• Minimum capacity – about 12 L per person per day (36 L each for three days)

• Food-grade, opaque, non-toxic tanks to prevent algae growth
  

• Rigid supports so tanks can’t move when the vehicle is in motion
  

• UV protection – either UV-resistant material or shaded installation
  

• Air vent to prevent vacuum collapse while water is drawn out
  

• Sealed, contamination-proof filler inlet
  

• Leak-free pipework made from potable-grade material
  

• Optional water-level sight tube or electronic gauge for easy monitoring
  

• Clear separation from waste plumbing to prevent cross-contamination
  

Example of a certified self-containment fresh and waste water system installed in a Ford Transit by Vanlifer: food-grade tanks securely mounted under the sink, connected to a 12V pump for safe and pressurised water delivery inside the van.

Vanlifer Product Recommendations

• Fresh water tank: TT Plastics 42–80L underbody or interior tank range
• Water filler and cap: Lockable filler kit with hose tail
• 12V water pump: Shurflo Trail King 10L/min
• Water level gauge: 12V LED tank level monitor

Waste Water (Grey + Black) System And Off-Loading

All used water must be collected, stored, and emptied hygienically.

Here are the technical features your system needs to meet the self-containment rules in NZ:

• Waste capacity must equal or exceed the fresh-water supply
  

• Tanks built from non-corrosive, non-toxic, stable material
  

• Tanks securely mounted with solid supports
  

• Off-loading must occur via a clean, sealed connection at an approved dump station

• Outlet hose minimum 3 m long

• Outlet diameter 25–38 mm; isolation valve same size
  

• Each fixture must include a smell trap (P-trap) or one-way air valve
  

• Drain hoses must be stored hygienically in a sealed locker
  

• Level gauge or sight tube recommended to prevent overflow
  

Grey and black water can be managed in a combined system as long as an isolating valve is installed to keep them separate when required.

Each waste tank must be vented directly to the outside of the vehicle, using a vent pipe with a minimum internal diameter of 10 mm. The vent outlet should be positioned above the lowest fixture and away from any doors or windows to prevent odours from entering the living space. An insect-proof screen must also be fitted at the end of each vent to maintain hygiene and airflow.

Vanlifer Product Recommendations

• Grey-water tank: TT Plastics 40–80L waste tank
• Drain hose: 25–32 mm flexible sanitation hose
• Dump hose storage: Rear underbody hose locker
• Waste trap: Inline P-trap fitting

Three-day Capacity

Your system must sustain you for at least three days without external refill or discharge.
The certifier calculates this based on the total fresh-water, waste-water, and toilet capacities.

Here is a typical example for a two-berth van:

• Fresh water: 72 L
  

• Waste water: 72 L
  

• Toilet: 12–15 L cassette or 5–6 L per person per day for composting types
  

Vanlifer Product Recommendations

• 2-berth system kit: Vanlifer self-containment package (tanks, fittings, vent, waste hose)

Fixed toilet

Only permanently installed toilets qualify under the current self containment regulations in NZ.

These are the toilet systems approved for certified self-contained vehicles:

• Cassette-type toilets draining into a sealed removable cassette
  

• Waterless or composting toilets (AS/NZS 1546.2 compliant) with correct venting

Cassette toilets installed in a Ford Transit campervan by Vanlifer

These are the main installation and usability standards your toilet must meet for self-containment certification:

• The toilet must be usable inside the vehicle, with the ability to sit and operate it without removing it or stepping outside
  

• It can be installed under a bed platform or bench seat provided it remains accessible and functional in place—using a lift-up lid, sliding base, or swing-out mount
  

• Must offer reasonable privacy and be mounted in a clean, accessible area
  

• Base rigidly fixed to the vehicle’s structure and unable to move in transit
  

• Waste must discharge directly to a cassette or black-water tank—no lifting the base to empty
  

• Constructed from durable, non-corrosive materials
  

• Composting toilets must follow manufacturer instructions exactly, including vent fans, flues, and sealed storage for full chambers
  

Fixed cassette toilet installed under the seat. Waste is discharged by removing the cassette through the exterior access hatch and emptying it at a certified dump station.

Another waste disposal system, installed by Vanlifer on a LDV Deliver 9 campervan - The exterior access hatch allows the cassette to be safely removed and emptied at a dump station. 

The following minimum tank sizes are required for composting toilets to meet self-containment standards:

• Solids chamber ≥ 0.5 L per person per day
  

• Liquids chamber ≥ 1 L per person per day

Composting waste must be processed and disposed of safely according to New Zealand self-containment and environmental regulations. It must mature for at least 12 months before burial or be handled according to AS/NZS 1546.2. Dry waste must not go into dump stations or public bins.

Vanlifer Product Recommendations

• Cassette toilet: Black Moa Cassette Toilet – fixed mount, self-contained certified
• Fixed Cassette Toilet: Vanlifer 24L Fixed Cassette Toilet

Sink And Rubbish Storage

Each certified vehicle must have a fixed sink connected directly to the waste-water system and secure rubbish storage.

Here’s what your sink must include to meet self-containment requirements:

• Non-corrosive, food-safe material
  

• Permanently installed
  

• Waste-pipe diameter 25 mm minimum
  

• A trap or vented loop to prevent odour backflow
  

• Sealed outlet fittings and watertight joints

Example of a fixed, food-grade stainless-steel sink installed by Vanlifer in a Ford Transit campervan.

Your rubbish storage must meet the following standards for certification:

• Washable, lidded container made from stable material
  

• Large enough for three days of waste
  

• Secured to prevent tipping while driving
  

Vanlifer Product Recommendations

• Camper sink: Vanlifer Circular Deep Stainless Bowl Sink
• Plumbing kit: Vanlifer Self Containment Plumbing Kit
• Rubbish bin: Vanlifer Rubbish Bin

Ventilation System

A compliant ventilation system keeps odours and gases out of the living space.

Your ventilation system must meet the following standards for certification:

• All grey- and black-water tanks must vent directly to the exterior
  

• Vent terminations above the lowest fixture and away from openings
  

• May use fan-assisted or passive airflow

• Every vent outlet must include insect screening
  

• All fixtures connected through traps or one-way valves to prevent air escape
  

A roof vent installed by Vanlifer on a LDV Deliver 9 campervan.

Vanlifer Product Recommendations

• Roof vent: MaxxFan Deluxe 12V
• Plumbing kit: Vanlifer Self Containment Plumbing Kit

How Do You Get Your Self-Containment Certificate in New Zealand?

Once your vehicle passes inspection, you’ll receive:

1. Certificate of Self-Containment – a document detailing tank volumes, materials, vent sizes, and certified occupancy. Recorded in the national register.
   

2. Green Warrant Card – Rigid plastic (85 × 55 mm) displayed inside the windscreen on the left side. Shows registration number, certificate number, occupant capacity, and expiry date.
   

3. Validity: four years unless plumbing, tank or toilet systems are modified.
   

All certification data is stored in the national SCV Register at nzscv.co.nz, where enforcement officers can verify your record.

Book Your Green Warrant with Vanlifer

Vanlifer provides two options to help you complete your self-containment certification:

Self-Containment Inspection: Green Warrant certification service
→ Book Inspection

SCV Kit Pre-Install: Complete plumbing + toilet package for certification
→ Shop SCV Kits

Remote Self-Containment Inspections

Self-containment inspections are normally carried out in person by an authorised Vehicle Inspector.

However, if a vehicle is located in a remote area with no reasonable access to a Certification Authority, the PGDB allows the use of photo or live-video evidence to support the inspection.

In these cases the certifier must:

• Keep a complete auditable record of photos and/or videos clearly showing every facility – tanks, toilet, vents, sink, hose connections
  

• Record all measurements and findings on the official inspection form
  

• Upload the inspection record and media to the SCV Register
  

Vanlifer usually carries out self-containment inspections in person at our Auckland workshop.

However, for customers based in remote areas, we also offer a remote video verification service approved by the Certification Authority.

Remote Video Verification

For remote builds outside Auckland, we provide photo or live-video support to complete your inspection when travel isn’t practical

→ Request Remote Assessment

In-Person Inspection

Our standard in-person certification appointments take place at Vanlifer’s Wairau Valley workshop in Auckland.

→ Book Green Warrant

Self-Containment Certificate Checklist: What to Bring

Before your appointment, ensure the following:

• Tanks installed, full, and connected
  

• Toilet fixed, accessible, and working
  

• Sink drains correctly

• Hoses, valves, vents, and traps visible for verification
  

• Rubbish bin on board
  

The inspector will complete the official PGDB Vehicle Inspection Form, photograph all systems, and submit your details to the national register.

Book Your Self-Containment Inspection

Vanlifer is an authorised Certification Authority for self-contained vehicles. We inspect, certify, and upload your record to the official SCV Register.

• Price: $220 (includes PGDB levy)
  

• Duration: about 45 minutes
  

• Location: Vanlifer – 7/41 View Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland
  

Book online or call us to secure your Green Warrant inspection.

In Conclusion: Self-Containment Requirements at a Glance

Here’s a quick visual summary of the essential features every certified self-contained campervan must include.

Infographic source: Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board 2023 – “Getting Your Vehicle Certified as Self-Contained”.