What can I do if I think a vehicle is parked illegally?

If there is a vehicle that you believe is parked illegally, you can contact our Customer Service team on 07 838 6699.

Examples of illegal parking include:

  • parked facing the wrong way on the street
  • parked over or within one metre of a driveway
  • parked on yellow lines
  • illegally parked in a mobility space. 

One of our parking staff will check the situation as soon as they are free to do so and will prioritise vehicles left in a dangerous, unsafe condition or location.

If the illegally-parked vehicle is parked on private property (i.e. not on a public roadside or footpath), you will need to contact the property owner to let them know about the situation. 

How do I pay a parking fine?

For questions specifically about paying a parking ticket, see our page

Pay a parking ticket

 

Parking on the street

On-street parking in central Hamilton is a mix of free, time-limited parking, and metered parking. A limited number of mobility parking spaces are also available on-street.

Council’s paid parking (all on-street and some off-street) is free on Sundays and public holidays, excluding the Garden Place underground car park off Anglesea Street.

Customers visiting Council’s Garden Place offices in the central city can park for a short time for free in the Council car park on Anglesea Street behind the main building.

Council’s on-street parking

Paid parking on the street is free for the first two hours in the heart of the city. The two hours free is per vehicle – sensors in the parking bays keep the parking system updated when a vehicle moves to another space. 

Business and tradespeople can apply for extended on-street parking if needed, and city workers can use Council’s on-street all-day parking areas.

Payment is by coin or eftpos (debit/credit card) at ‘pay and display’ machines, or by using the Pay My Park app, which lets you register the parking space you are in and pay via your cellphone.

Download the Pay My Park app

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All-day parking

Over 400 on-street paid parking spaces are available for all-day parking. A flat rate of $6 applies, from Monday - Friday between 8am - 5pm. Vehicles that park in these spaces are monitored by a roving vehicle equipped with licence plate-recognition technology. 

All-day paid parking is available on sections of the following central city streets: 

1. Clarence Street

There are approximately 17 all-day parking spaces available on the southern side of Clarence Street, between Anglesea Street and Tristram Street. Short-term parking options are also available.

2. Grantham Street

There are approximately 53 all-day parking spaces available on Grantham Street. Short-term parking options are also available. 

Victoria Street to Anzac Bridge

 

Anzac Bridge to Tisdall Street

All day paid parking map for Gantham Street by Waikato Rowing Club

 

3. Hamilton Parade

There are approximately 25 all-day parking spaces available on the river-side of Hamilton Parade. Short-term parking options are also available. 

4. Harwood Street

Rostrevor Street and London Street

There are approximately 15 all-day parking spaces available on the eastern side of Harwood Street, between Rostrevor Street and London Street.

 

Liverpool Street and Rostrevor Street

There are approximately 22 all-day parking spaces available on the western side of Harwood Street, between Liverpool Street and Rostrevor Street. 

 

5. Knox Street

There are approximately 45 all-day parking spaces available on the southern side of Knox Street between Anglesea Street and Victoria Street. Short-term parking options and mobility parking options are also available.  

6. Liverpool Street

There are approximately 15 all-day parking spaces available on the northern side of Liverpool Street, between Anglesea Street and Victoria Street. Short-term parking options are also available. 

7. Memorial Drive

There are approximately 35 all-day parking spaces on the eastern side of Memorial Drive, between Riro Street and Anzac Parade (opposite Memorial Park). Short-term parking options are available.  

8. Nisbet Street

There are approximately 32 all-day parking spaces available on the northern side of the street, and the southern side of the street (outside Wintec). Short-term parking options and mobility parking options are also available.

9. Norton Road

There are approximately 48 all-day parking spaces on the northern side and the southern side of Norton Road, between Seddon Road and Tristram Street.

10. Rostrevor Street

Victoria Street to Clifton Road

There are 10-all day parking spaces available along the southern side of the street, from Victoria Street to Clifton Road. Short-term parking options are available.  

 

Seddon Road to Tristram Street

There are approximately 32 all-day parking spaces on the northern side, and the southern side of the street, from Tristram Street to Norton Road.

11. Tristram Street

Rostrevor Street to Mill Street

There are 28 all-day parking spaces available along the western side of Tristram Street, from Rostrevor Street to Mill Street. Short-term parking options are available.

 

Bryce Street to London Street

There are 15 all-day parking spaces available along the Seddon Park side of Tristram Street, between Bryce Street and London Street. Short-term parking options are available. 

12. Vialou Street

There are approximately 22 all-day parking spaces available along the eastern side of Vialou Street, between Liverpool and Rostrevor Street.  Short-term parking options are available.

All-day paid parking FAQs

What is the PayMyPark app and how does it work?

PayMyPark makes parking easy, simply find a park and start your parking. It's free to register and to download the App. Download the free app from the Apple App Store or Google Play; register your details and pre-load credit via credit card, debit card or internet banking. For more information on the app and how it works visit paymypark.com.

Will changing two-hour spaces into all-day parking hurt local businesses?

No.

We are not taking away all the two-hour free carparks from these areas, there will still be parking available for those using the local businesses. The spaces within the all-day paid parking zones, and the adjacent time-restrictive (two-hour free) parking spaces, will also be actively monitored for compliance. This will ensure local businesses and services continue to have regular turn-over of nearby parking spaces to assist with their trading.

Will more streets be changing to all-day parking?

Yes. In the future, we plan to roll out all-day paid parking to more areas around the central city. We have identified possible locations, including Seddon Road and Tristram Street (near Boyes Park). More information on this will be coming soon.

Will this parking always be $6?

As the market for this type of parking grows in our central city, demand responsive pricing could be applied, whereby the cost changes depending on usage.

How will this change in parking revitalise the central city?

Hamilton is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and we're working hard to ensure our central city is positioned to take advantage of all the opportunities this population and economic growth present. With 50% infill or brownfield development planned in the central city, it's becoming more necessary to implement parking changes that will encourage resiliency, economic prosperity and lessen potential future issues. The National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) has removed the minimum parking requirements for new developments and with the central city being a hotspot for these types of developments, it's essential to explore parking initiatives that support this.

Can I reserve a carpark in advance using the app?

No.

You can only pay for a carpark on the day and at the time that you park in an all-day parking zone. The PayMyPark system cannot assign spaces to reserve and there is no way to signal to other road users that spaces are reserved. It is advised that users park in the space first before paying.

What if I pay for my space, but have to leave it to go to an appointment?

As the carpark is vacated others are entitled to use the space, however if you return to the same all-day parking area and a space is available you are entitled to park in a space again without re-paying.

If there are no available parks when you return, a refund is not available. The $6 all-day fee is the same regardless of how long you choose to stay each day.

Fees, charges, and parking durations

Here’s a list of parking-related fees (including info on parking fines), and information on how long you can park in Council-operated car parks.

On-street Parking
On-Street Meter Parking - First 2 hours Free
On-Street Meter Parking - After first 2 hours per hour - up to 4 hours $6.00
Short-term reservation per day $30.00
Long-term reservation per negotiated rate
All-day paid parking per day $6.00

Other useful road and transport info

You might like to visit our roads and transport pages too. You’ll find a summary on who is responsible for looking after roads and transport in Hamilton and how this is being done. Learn how to get info to plan your journey to work, school or around the city, and discover what road safety work is being done in Hamilton.

See our tips for workplace travel planning and school travel planning.

See our page below to make payments, applications, requests and report issues related to roads, parking and transport.

How can I?

Frequently asked questions

Why don't you just make all parking free?

Experience around the world indicates that free parking in a city can mean inner city workers take the parks up all day and don't leave any available for shoppers. Not charging for the first two hours means parking is free for most shoppers but still encourages turnover of parks.

Can I pay for the extra hours upfront?

Yes you can if you paid via the Pay My Park app. By using the app you can register your parking space and pay without having to return to your car. 

However you can't pay upfront when using the old parking meters as the meter starts counting from when the money goes in. If you are going to be longer you will need to top the meter up at the end of the two hours free period.

How do parking bay sensors work?

Each parking bay has a number, and this is linked to a sensor and a wifi connection. When you park in a spot, the sensor recognises a vehicle is parked there. Parking wardens scan the vehicle registration details into a mobile device which links that data to the previous record of how long the car has been in that spot.

The sensors also let us know when someone parks in mobility parking spaces, loading zones, clearways, or taxi stands/bus stops in the central city. This helps us to more quickly identify if vehicles are causing safety or access issues.

How can I get extended parking?

This is available to business and trade vehicles only so that they can park by or near places where they are carrying out work, or in relation to an event. If this is you, see our request extended use of parking spaces page.

Who can I contact if my vehicle has been towed?

If you think we may have towed your vehicle contact our Customer Service team by calling 07 838 6699 during office hours, emailing info@hcc.govt.nz, or use the Antenno App to contact them (available to download free on the App Store or Google Play).

One of our parking staff will check the situation as soon as they are free to do so.
Others you can contact to find out who has towed your vehicle include:

  • NZ Police – use their ’10-5’ reporting service – visit their website for contact details.
  • Property owners (if your vehicle was parked on private property.

Find out about abandoned vehicles.

Related pages

Report an abandoned vehicle

Report abandoned and burnt-out vehicles.

Pay a parking ticket

Pay parking tickets and fines, and enquire about or appeal a ticket issue.

Mobility parking

Find out about mobility parking spaces and access in Hamilton, and view our map.

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Last updated 21 April 2023