Parking fines increase

Published on 24 September 2024

The fine for parking without a permit in a mobility space without a permit will be $750 from 1 October 2024.

Whangārei residents are being urged to keep to the rules to avoid being caught out when new parking fine increases come into effect on 1 October 2024.

Council Health and Bylaws Manager Reiner Mussle says parking fine fees are set by Central Government and had not been updated for two decades.

He says the biggest increase is for people who park in mobility parks without a permit, where the fine will increase from $150 to $750, reflecting the seriousness of this offence.

“We hope that this acts as a greater incentive to do the right thing and keep these spaces clear for those who need them. Last year, we issued 252 of these tickets in the Whangārei District and we hope that this increase will act as a stronger deterrent to people choosing to park in these spaces.” 

Mr Mussle says general parking fine fees and the price for vehicle towage costs are also set to increase.

“In most cases, these fines haven’t been raised since 2004, so the Government has raised them to reflect inflation and to better reflect the true cost of vehicle towage.”

“We know nobody likes getting fines, so our message is 'do the right thing and don’t get caught out when the new fines come into place'. Let friends and family know of the changes too, so they also don’t end up with an expensive surprise after 1 October.”

Mr Mussle says it is also a timely reminder to be kind to parking wardens, who sometimes bear the brunt of customers' frustration over tickets.

“Please be kind to our parking wardens and remember they don’t set the fees or get the money from them. They are doing an important job of keeping parking spaces turning over in our busiest shopping areas.”