Appeal a parking ticket

If you wish to appeal a parking ticket, please submit a Parking Explanation form with supporting evidence.

 Favourable consideration is given to the following:

  • you had an medical emergency that prevented you from removing your vehicle
  • your vehicle was broken down and you could not remove it
  • your vehicle was stolen
  • you were detained by the Police.

By post

Step 1.Complete the form

Download the form and complete it.

Parking explanation form(PDF, 28KB)

Step 2.Post it to us

Post your completed explanation form and supporting evidence to us.

Whangarei District Council 
Private Bag 9023
Te Mai
Whangārei 0143

Step 3.Review your submission

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting documents such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice.

Reasons when a review will not be granted include:

  • you lost track of time or an appointment took longer than expected 
  • you did not see the parking sign
  • you did not understand the parking sign
  • you have a parking permit but it was not displayed at the time
  • you went to get change for the parking dispenser (taking longer than five minutes)
  • your display ticket or permit was not displaying correctly i.e. not easily visible
  • you had to use the toilet
  • you were picking up or dropping off a passenger
  • other vehicles were parked illegally or inconsiderately.

Step 4.Responding to your submission

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to fifteen working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee. We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after fifteen working days.

By email

Step 1.Complete the form

Download the form and complete it.

Parking explanation form(PDF, 28KB)

Step 2.Email us

Email your completed explanation form and supporting evidence to us.

Email:  mailroom@wdc.govt.nz

Step 3.Review your submission

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting documents such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice.

Reasons when a review will not be granted include:

  • you lost track of time or an appointment took longer than expected 
  • you did not see the parking sign
  • you did not understand the parking sign
  • you have a parking permit but it was not displayed at the time
  • you went to get change for the parking dispenser (taking longer than five minutes)
  • your display ticket or permit was not displaying correctly i.e. not easily visible
  • you had to use the toilet
  • you were picking up or dropping off a passenger
  • other vehicles were parked illegally or inconsiderately.

Step 4.Responding to your submission

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to fifteen working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee. We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after fifteen working days.

In-person

Step 1.Complete the form

Download the form and complete it.

Parking explanation form(PDF, 28KB)

Step 2.Bring into us

You can bring your completed explanation form and supporting evidence into one of our customer service centres.

Te Iwitahi
 9 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
Hours:  Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays
Summer holiday closedown: Closed from 4:00pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopening at 8:00am on Monday 6 January 2025

Ruakākā service centre 
9 Takutai Place, Ruakākā
Hours:  Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 4:00pm
Closed public holidays
Summer holiday closedown: Closed from 4:00pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopening at 8:30am on Monday 6 January 2025

Service centre at isite
92 Otaika Road, Raumanga
Hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 12:00pm and 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Step 3.Review your submission

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting documents such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice.

Reasons when a review will not be granted include:

  • you lost track of time or an appointment took longer than expected 
  • you did not see the parking sign
  • you did not understand the parking sign
  • you have a parking permit but it was not displayed at the time
  • you went to get change for the parking dispenser (taking longer than five minutes)
  • your display ticket or permit was not displaying correctly i.e. not easily visible
  • you had to use the toilet
  • you were picking up or dropping off a passenger
  • other vehicles were parked illegally or inconsiderately.

Step 4.Responding to your submission

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to fifteen working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee. We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after fifteen working days.

Infringement notices can be lodged at Court for two reasons:

  • you have requested a court hearing or made a written submission to Court
  • the fee was unpaid after the final payment date on the reminder notice.

If the infringement notice was lodged at Court as it was unpaid, it has already had an extra $55.00 lodgement fee added.

A further $133.00 will be added if payment is not made within 28 days and the Court takes enforcement action.

If you believe the fine was paid before it lodged at Court, contact us as soon as possible. You will need to provide proof of payment.

You may be entitled to apply for the infringement notice to be removed from the Court and re-issued by Council, which will let you make payment without extra costs or send us an explanation for us to consider.

Applications are only considered for limited reasons, which are outlined in the Summary Proceeding Act 1957, Section 78B.

Some of these reasons are:

  • the reminder notice was sent to the wrong address. (You will need to include proof that you have updated the Motor Vehicle Register)
  • NZ Post has confirmed a mail delivery problem
  • the ownership of the vehicle was changed before the infringement occurred (you will need to include proof that you have updated the Motor Vehicle Register)
  • a customer requested an infringement review but did not receive a response (must have made an attempt to follow up before the final payment date had passed).

You will need to contact the Ministry of Justice to request a Form 57.

Report it

Use our online forms to report parking and vehicle issues.

Report an issue

Enquiries

Use our online form to enquire about a parking ticket.  

Enquire online

Phone: 09 430 4200

Related Information

Back to top