Cars Exempt From Car Park Charges

Response

Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2025 08:57 am
Subject: Official Information Request - Cars exempt from car park charges

I refer to your Official Information request of 17 July 2025 for information regarding cars exempt from paying carparking fees in Rotorua.

Question:

Can you please advise who is exempt from parking fees along with any associated policy for the exemption?

Answer:

Council's Traffic Bylaw 2018 contains reference to 'meter hoods' which prior to moving to a pay by plate system, recognised a temporary discontinuation of a park space. Clause 8.11 of the bylaw allows Council to issue parking 'permits' authorising the permit holder to park in a metered space without paying the prescribed fee. Physical permits have essentially been replaced by electronic 'pay by plate' permits and are authorised only by senior staff holding warrant of appointment enabling them to make such decisions.

Question:

How many vehicles are exempt?

Answer:

Currently there are 305 vehicles that hold some form of exemption. Almost all exempt vehicles have limitations on the boundary of the exemption e.g. "within 100m of Address X excluding P15 and Mobility spaces".

Question:

Who do the vehicles belong to?

Answer:

*Denotes where a geographical exemption applies limiting the permit to a specific area, and while conducting certain activities (conditions). In addition to this, Unison vehicles and operational emergency vehicles such as Police, Fire and Ambulance are exempt from ticketing.

Question:

Does the council or i-Park hold any data which shows how much revenue is being lost due to those exempt, utilising car parks that they would otherwise need to pay for? If so, please provide the data. Or any data which shows how often the vehicles utilise their exemption.

Answer:

No, neither Council nor i-Park hold that data.

Question:

Please advise how much council spent on carparking services for the last 3 financial years vs how much carparking revenue it received.