You do not have to return to your car with a paper ticket. Wardens will determine the validity of your parking through your licence plate number.
The i-Park scan car also assists in monitoring parking.
On-street parking is enforced from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 12noon on Saturdays. It is not enforced on public holidays.
Check the signs you've parked between carefully to ensure you are using your parking space correctly and to avoid receiving a parking infringement. Some examples of parking signage are below.
You can pay to park anywhere in this area within the maximum timeframes indicated on the signs:
The machines take credit card and debit card payments and approximately half of the machines also take coins. On one side of the street there will be a machine that doesn't accept coins and on the other side there will be one that does accept coins. Machines that accept coins have a red band around their tops that reads 'Coins or Card'.
Alternatively, you can use the mobile parking app, PrestoPark, to pay for parking. Learn more about the PrestoPark App here.
Yes, the system can provide you with an email receipt at no cost or a text receipt for 20c. These options will be displayed on the screen of the parking machine when you are choosing your parking payment options.
If for some reason you do not receive your requested receipt, contact i-Park on 07 958 9805 with your registration number, the date, time, and location of where you were parked, and we can work to send you a copy.
Parking systems throughout the country are moving away from coin payments however Council has ensured this option is still available to users.
Approximately half of the machines take coins. The minimum payment when using coins is 50c. You can use smaller change to make up the 50c.
On one side of the street there will be a machine that doesn't accept coins and on the other side there will be one that does accept coins. There will be a sign on the side of the parking machine to indicate if it's one that accepts coins. These machines will also have a red band around their tops.
If the parking machine you are at doesn't accept coins you can pay at the machine across the road - you do not need to move your car.
Insert your coins in the slot under the press to operate' button.
Parking systems are moving away from coin payments however Council has ensured this option is still available to users. The machines have been placed in a way that ensures a machine that accepts coins is never too far away for those that prefer to use this option of payment.
The Green and Blue zones were created during the planning stages of the parking system. Having distinct zones aims to encourage targeted shopping and visiting habits, which is the same reason we have different time limits in different parts of town.
The zones help to reduce traffic congestion across the city caused by vehicles circling a wider area looking for car parks and encourages foot traffic, which in turn better supports inner city businesses.
The zones also allow someone shopping in a particular zone to shift their vehicle to a new carpark, in the same zone, under a current payment, without having to pay again. If in a time limited parking area, they must however move to a new parking space between two different parking signs and adhere to the maximum time limit stated on the signs. Our parking app is a great way to have increased visibility of the size of the zone you are parked in.
The free P60 parking in the centre of the CBD has remained to ensure convenience for short stays and to allow customers easy access to either side of town. The use and practicality of the zones is monitored as part of our continuous improvement approach and in line with Council's Parking Policy.
If the machine you're trying to pay at doesn't seem to be working, call the number listed on the machine and quote the Meter ID as shown in this photo.
Council is responsible for setting the parking rates. The machines do however have a minimum payment of $0.50 (smaller change can be used to make up the 50c). Like other services, using a debit/credit card will also attract a fee of $0.50. However, eftpos cards cannot be used.
Using a debit or credit card to make your payment is an option we have provided for users for added convenience. The cost of using this type of payment is $0.50. Paying for parking with coins is still a readily available option throughout the inner city. Alternatively, you can use the mobile parking app PrestoPark to pay for parking. Learn more about the PrestoPark App here.
The 50c fee for using a debit or credit card covers the cost of providing the card reader technology, the integration of the technology and on-going maintenance of the card reader technology, as well as the bank transaction fee. This fee is aligned with bank rules around setting surcharges, so long as the customer is notified of the fee. Notification of this fee is displayed on the parking machine screens when choosing your parking time and payment options. Additionally, if you press the information icon on the screen (this is the button with an 'i' on it) this will display more information about the cost of parking and related fees.
Providing the option to pay by eftpos would be significantly more expensive, both to provide and operate, and that the technology supporting eftpos payments is not as secure for unattended payments, or robust in outdoor environments and when used incorrectly.
The current card payment system is consistent with similar parking solutions throughout New Zealand and all over the world, and offers convenience and security for parking service users in the city.
A tariff is the amount of money it costs to park in a certain area.
Mobility card holders can use dedicated mobility spaces for as long as they want without paying. All other car parks can be used by mobility card holders, without paying, for double the amount of time specified (except P15 spaces which are limited to the time frames specified and are intended for quick pick up and drop offs). If no time limit is specified, mobility card holders may park in this space for as long as they require without having to pay. Ensure that your valid mobility permit is clearly displayed. Parking wardens monitor the mobility parking spaces to ensure vehicles have valid mobility permits.
Auckland-based New Zealand owned and operated Harding Traffic is a specialist Intelligent Traffic Management company within the traffic industry and engaged in the parking services procurement process with Rotorua Lakes Council. i-Park (Innovative Parking Solutions Ltd) is a sister company.
Harding focuses on the assembly, supply and installation of intelligent traffic management systems while i-Park focuses on delivering services.
Harding installed the technical solution, but i-Park is responsible for service delivery and the operation of the system.
i-Park terminals are state of the art and are offered with touch screen capability.
i-Park also provides specialist licence plate-recognition parking enforcement software that interfaces with the parking terminals and other systems and manages the enforcement process. It provides a seamless interface with the Ministry of Justice e-filing system and with New Zealand Transport Agency vehicle registry. It also provides an online portal for anyone needing to view, pay or request further consideration of an infringement.
This level of solution makes the service as efficient as possible therefore enabling i-Park to offer the solution as cost-effectively as possible to the Council.