Child seat & booster seat guide
What New Zealand law requires for travelling with kids, how to hire seats with your motorhome, and how to fit them safely in a campervan's travel seats.
The law in plain English
In New Zealand, every child under 7 must be correctly secured in an approved child restraint appropriate for their age and size. Children aged 7 to 10 (or under 148 cm) must use a restraint if one is available, and a booster seat is strongly recommended so the adult seatbelt sits across the hips and shoulder rather than the neck and stomach.
Hiring seats with your motorhome
Most rental operators hire infant capsules, forward-facing child seats and booster seats as a per-trip add-on. Request them when you book — they're not always available on walk-up, especially in peak season. Tell the operator each child's age, weight and height so they supply the right stage of seat.
Fitting seats safely in a campervan
Only use designated forward-facing travel seats with a proper seatbelt — never a side-facing dinette bench while moving. Confirm with the operator how many child-seat-compatible seats the specific vehicle has, because motorhome layouts differ and that can decide which vehicle class suits a family.
Child & booster seat FAQs
At what age can a child stop using a car seat in New Zealand?
By law a child must use an approved child restraint until their 7th birthday. From 7 until they're 148 cm tall (or turn 11), NZTA strongly recommends a booster seat so the adult seatbelt sits correctly across them.
Can I bring my own child seat from home?
Yes, and many families do. It must be in good condition and ideally meet a recognised standard (NZS/AS 1754, or the US, EU or UK equivalents are generally accepted). Check it fits the rental vehicle's seat and belt configuration — motorhome dinette belts vary.
Do rental motorhomes have proper anchor points for child seats?
Most modern rental motorhomes have lap-and-diagonal belts on the forward-facing travel seats and some have top-tether or ISOFIX points, but this varies by vehicle and layout. Always confirm with the operator at booking how many child-seat-compatible seats the specific vehicle has.
Travelling with kids? Let's match the vehicle to your family
Tell us your children's ages and your dates. We'll point you to vehicles with enough child-seat-compatible travel seats and the layout that works with little ones aboard.