Parking

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Parking Overview

Free and metered car parks and on-street car parking are provided in a variety of locations around central New Plymouth.

Please check the time limits whenever you park your car – limits are clearly displayed on blue signs. Parking in all Council-managed car parks and on-street parks is free on public holidays.

What are tickets issued for?

Parking infringement notices are issued if your vehicle:

Is parked at an expired meter.
Overstays in a pay and display zone or any time restricted space.
Fails to purchase and/or correctly display a pay and display ticket.
Parks in an area restricted to certain vehicles and user groups, e.g. buses, taxis and mobility parking.
Compromises the safety of other motorists or pedestrians, i.e. by parking over broken yellow lines, vehicle crossings, footpaths.
Is parked over a line marking a parking space.
Does not meet legal requirements, e.g, a current Warrant of Fitness or vehicle registration is not displayed, you have worn tyres or no or incorrect licence plates.

How do I pay my parking ticket?

Parking fines should be paid within 28 days from the date the ticket was issued. You can pay the amount due by:

Cash, cheque or EFTPOS at any Council office.
Posting a cheque to us.
Phone or electronic banking.

Our bank account is 03-0713-0357528-08. Please make sure you use your ticket number as the reference so we can process your payment.

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What happens if I don’t pay my fine?

A reminder notice will be sent to you if payment is not made within 28 days. If payment is not made within 28 days after the reminder notice is sent, the infringement is sent to the court and court costs will be added to your fine. You will then be required to pay your fine through the court.

How do I dispute my parking fine?

Fill in the parking infringement explanation form and send it to us with any evidence such as a car registration or Warrant of Fitness receipt, a pay and display ticket, etc, to support your explanation.

Parking infringement explanation form (One page 37KB PDF)

What happens if my car received a ticket, but I was not driving it at the time?

As the registered owner you are responsible. If however, you provide us with the full contact details of the person driving the vehicle, we will forward the notice to the driver.

Why did I get a parking ticket when I put more money in the meter?

You may only park at an on-street parking meter for a maximum of two hours. The vehicle must then be moved. Return to top

Why did I get two tickets at the same time?

E.g. one at 2.00pm, and one at 2.02pm – one ticket will be for parking at an expired meter the other for exceeding the two hour time limit on a street parking meter.

Why did I get a parking ticket for parking on a broken yellow line, when I was only there for a minute?

These are in place for road safety and no vehicle is permitted to stop, stand or park on them at any time. This is an instant fine.

Why was my tyre chalked when I had not exceeded the time on my meter?

This is to ensure people do not park longer than the time shown in the metered area or on the parking signs. Parking wardens routinely chalk tyres and after a reasonable time return and check that cars have not exceeded the displayed parking limit.

Why is my car called a sedan on my infringement notice?

All road vehicles are classed as sedans with the exception of buses and trucks, etc.

Why did I get a ticket while parked in the loading zone?

Tickets are issued when you exceed the five minute time limit. Loading zones are for quick pick ups and drop offs of goods and passengers.Return to top