Parking FAQs
Motorcycle charges
- Hourly rate – Currently proposed at $2.50, which is 50% of the hourly rates that vehicles are charged.
- The number of dedicated parking bays that exist around the city which equate to 200 bays.
- The number of hours per day the parking fee will be enforced. The proposal assumes that fees will be charged seven days per week (or 353 days per year) and would be in force between the hours of 8am to 8pm. These would not apply on public holidays.
- Average occupancy is assumed to be 50% across all bays.
- Compliance – in terms of the number of people who pay for their parking session has been estimated at 80%
Hourly rate – Currently proposed at $2.50, which is 50% of the hourly rates that vehicles are charged.
The number of dedicated parking bays that exist around the city which equate to 200 bays.
The number of hours per day the parking fee will be enforced. The proposal assumes that fees will be charged seven days per week (or 353 days per year) and would be in force between the hours of 8am to 8pm. These would not apply on public holidays.
Average occupancy is assumed to be 50% across all bays.
Compliance – in terms of the number of people who pay for their parking session has been estimated at 80%
What is the reason for charging motorcycles for parking?
Currently the full cost of providing unmetered on-street parking is met by all rate payers regardless of whether they use on–street parking or not. These costs include the cost of road markings, signage, and the cost of enforcement.
The Council is proposing that a greater proportion of these costs are met by those using the on-street parking and through that reduce the proportion that is funded through general rates.
We are therefore proposing to introduce a parking fee for motorcycle parking in the central city motorcycle parking bays to encourage turnover and to meet the criteria referred above.
The expected revenue from the proposal has been estimated in the vicinity of $737,000. This is metering revenue only and does not include any enforcement related revenue.
The assumptions used to determine expected revenue were calculated using the following:
The proposed $2.50 charge also includes a GST component of 15%.
What’s the expected revenue from charging motorcycles?
Currently the full cost of providing unmetered on-street parking is met by all rate payers regardless of whether they use on–street parking or not. These costs include the cost of road markings, signage, and the cost of enforcement.
The Council is proposing that a greater proportion of these costs are met by those using the on-street parking and through that reduce the proportion that is funded through general rates.
We are therefore proposing to introduce a parking fee for motorcycle parking in the central city motorcycle parking bays to encourage turnover and to meet the criteria referred above.
The expected revenue from the proposal has been estimated in the vicinity of $737,000. This is metering revenue only and does not include any enforcement related revenue
What are the assumptions that were made/used in generating potential revenue/forecasting?
The assumptions used to determine expected revenue were calculated using the following assumptions:
The proposed $2.50 charge also includes a GST component of 15%.
What is the cost of enforcing motorcycle parking?
The cost of enforcing the motorcycle parking will be met from existing resources, except for new Parking meters that will need to be installed at each individual site. Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose the cost of the parking meters as this information is commercially sensitive.
Why isn’t the Council encouraging use of motorcycles over cars?
Motorcycles and mopeds are a good alternative to private vehicle use as they use less space than cars on our streets. As we work to rebalance our streets to ensure the city is future-proofed for growth and traffic doesn’t grind to a halt, we are looking to enable those who can, to easily choose to walk, bike or take public transport. Motorbikes and Mopeds have greater emissions than these preferred modes. As a result, it is not Wellington City Council policy to incentivize motorcycle use.
Suburban parking charges
Hourly rate – Currently proposed at $4.
The proposal assumes that fees will be charged seven days per week (or 353 days per year) and would be in force between the hours of 8am to 6pm. Would not apply on public holidays.
Hourly rate – Currently proposed at $4.
The number of hours per day the parking fee will be enforce. The proposal assumes that fees will be charged seven days per week (or 353 days per year) and would be in force between the hours of 8am to 6pm. Would not apply on public holidays.
Average occupancy is assumed to be 50% across all bays.
Compliance – in terms of the number of people who pay for their parking session has been estimated at 80%
Who are you targeting with these changes?
Currently the full cost of providing unmetered on-street parking is met by all rate payers regardless of whether they use on–street parking or not. These costs include the cost of road markings, signage and the cost of enforcement.
The Council is proposing that a greater proportion of these costs are met by those using the on-street parking and through that reduce the proportion that is funded through general rates.
If approved through the LTP the Council will still be required to undertake detailed consultation. This will occur for each suburban centre individually, (including Johnsonville). as part of a traffic resolution process to set the location and number of spaces to be charged for, and the relevant fee.
It is likely that parking fees would only apply during normal business hours and not at other times, but this will be determined as part of a traffic resolution process as outlined above.
What are the hourly rates and hours for proposed charges?
The expected revenue were calculated using the following assumptions:
What financial modelling was done across the proposed suburbs?
We propose to introduce parking fees in the suburban centre shopping precincts to better manage high demand and to take a consistent approach across the city.
The assumptions used to determine expected revenue were calculated using the following assumptions:
The proposed $4 charge also includes a GST component of 15%. The original suburbs proposed were Tawa, Newlands, Island Bay, Johnsonville and Kilbirnie.
Revenue expectations for those suburbs and are listed below:
Suburb | Indicative revenue for metered parking |
Tawa | $781,126 |
Newlands | $400,409 |
Island Bay | $380,717 |
Johnsonville | $249,435 |
Kilbirnie | $530,421 |
Total | $2,342,108 |
Note: These estimates are for those paying for metered parking. It does not include any revenue that may come from the enforcement process.
Currently the full cost of providing unmetered on-street parking is met by all rate payers regardless of whether they use on–street parking or not. These costs include the cost of road markings, signage, and the cost of enforcement.
Council is proposing to introduce parking fees in the suburban centre shopping precincts to better manage demand and to take a consistent approach across the city. If the proposal is confirmed following the adoption of the 2024/34 Long Term Plan, then work would get underway to undertake detailed assessment of the parking situation in each suburb before undertaking detailed consultation with each community before any final decision would be made.
At the February 2024 LTP committee meeting, Council took the decision to expand on the initial recommendation to now investigate additional surburban centre. The full list now includes Tawa, Johnsonville, Newlands, Khandallah, Northland, Karori, Aro Valley, Kelburn, Newtown, Berhampore, Island Bay, Kilbirnie, Miramar and Rongotai. You can find the meeting minutes and recorded session here: Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee - 15 February 2024, 9.30AM - Meetings - Wellington City Council
The cost of enforcing the suburban parking will be met from existing resources, except for new Parking meters that will need to be installed at each individual site. Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose the cost of the parking meters as this information is commercially sensitive.
What areas do these changes impact? Parks? Beaches?
At this stage Council is only proposing to introduce parking fees in the suburban centre shopping precincts to better manage high demand and to take a consistent approach across the city.
If the proposal is confirmed following the adoption of the 2024/34 Long Term Plan, then work would get underway to undertake detailed assessment of the parking situation in each suburb before undertaking detailed consultation with each community before any final decision would be made.
Due to parking spaces being removed in the CBD, what is the estimated loss in revenue?
The removal of parking in the central city is expected to reduce revenue as outlined in the following table:
| 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
Approx number of on-street parks available | 2,000 | 1,700 | 1,500 |
Projected Revenue | $ 14,297,322 | $ 13,257,517 | $ 12,672,626 |
It should be noted that the Revenue projections relate to projected income from people paying for their parking session. It does not take into account revenue that may be earned from the issuing of infringements.
How have you decided on the suburbs that may be charged?
At this stage Council is only proposing to introduce parking fees in the suburban centre shopping precincts to better manage high demand and to take a consistent approach across the city. If the proposal is confirmed following the adoption of the 2024/34 Long Term Plan, then work would get underway to undertake detailed assessment of the parking situation in each suburb before undertaking detailed consultation with each community before any final decision would be made.
At the February 2024 LTP committee meeting, Council took the decision to further investigate a number of suburban centres including: Tawa, Johnsonville, Newlands, Khandallah, Northland, Karori, Aro Valley, Kelburn, Newtown, Berhampore, Island Bay, Kilbirnie, Miramar and Rongotai. You can find the meeting minutes and recorded session here: Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee - 15 February 2024, 9.30AM - Meetings - Wellington City Council
The proposal is not about parking permits – such as the existing residents parking scheme, rather it is about paid parking (metered parking). If this proposal is adopted, it will increase the proportion of the costs for parking in suburban centres that is directly met by the users and reduce the pro portion being funded by rates.
Other
Is there a plan to charge cyclists in the future?
Registration of bicycles is not proposed as part of the Long-term Plan. Registration of bicycles would require primary legislation (i.e., an Act of Parliament) and would therefore need to be initiated by central government. As far as the Wellington City Council is aware, this is not planned.
Cyclists contribute to the costs of the provision of cycle lanes and cycleways through their rates and taxes.