Kia ora, from what I can see, there is no info on freedom camping in the BOI, other than a couple of very remote DOC sites on islands. As you can see from some of the other discussions at the moment, it is a hot topic and most attitudes towards kipping in the wild are very negative. I'm afraid that the only option will be a commercial campsite or backpackers hostel. If you stay overnight in a carpark, you are likely to be fined.

If you are talking about just leaving the car for a couple of days while you are away kayaking or something, then find a well lit parking spot on a reasonably busy road and don't leave anything in the car on show.

Welcome to TA first time poster. A bit more info is often helpful to provide an informative reply. Are you going on a tour?, kahaking? hiking? Freedom camping is only permitted in seven designated sites. Paihia beach reserve blocked after freedom camping furore

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12316447

as far as overnight parking,, not camping, I would try to park in a well lit place.

Yes, it is safe.

Main beach Paihia is not a wilderness location. It is on the main road into Paihia, and I'm afraid the crime rates in the Bay of Islands aren't conducive to parking a vehicle and leaving it unattended in an exposed spot. I wouldn't even park and camp in the car overnight, when you aren't familiar with this area. Why put your property and/or life at risk un-necessarily?

If you want to be better informed, contact the BOI visitor information centre for advice, or better still the local Paihia police station.

Paihia is very well served when it comes to all grades and prices for accommodation.

One of the kayak hire places, Bay Hire, has a customer review where there is mention of the hire office arranging for a safe car park as part of their service and offering pickups for their guests. This approach would be the way to go for anyone planning a multi-day kayak adventure. Bay Hire are located at main beach Paihia.

#4 depends on what you call safe https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/119976443/police-appeal-for-witnesses-after-series-of-assaults-in-paihia-northland

It seems Nowhere is totally safe. There are problems with theft, burglary, assault in almost any town in NZ

#7 so by your logic New Zealand is an unsafe tourist destination - good to know.

I don't think #7 would intend to say New Zealand is unsafe.

What I read from their post is that NOWHERE is completely safe.

We had a terrorist attack last year, for heavens sake.

Yet that was the first one we had had since 1985.

New Zealand has a low crime rate overall, and is certainly safer than countries like South Africa.

Nowhere is free from crime, and as an example, theft from cars parked at remote road ends for day walks onto Mount Taranaki have been a problem for decades.

So not safe doesn't equal unsafe?

Good to know as well. That is that poster just being it's ususal nitpicking self with my posts.

Parking at Paihia over night is just as safe as parking in most places, and a lot safer than a lot of places.