15 Jul 2025

Auckland Transport collects almost $19 million since parking fines hiked

8:43 am on 15 July 2025
Body cams for parking officers are being trialed by Auckland Transport.

Auckland Transport's collected almost $19 million in fines since October 2024. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro

Auckland Transport's (AT) collected almost $19 million in fines since parking penalties went up 70 percent in October last year.

That's the same amount in nine months as it collected in the whole of 2024 and double what was collected the year before that.

Head of Transport and Parking Compliance Rick Bidgood told Morning Report said people were "getting the message" when it came to parking fines.

"Look I think they are really getting a message now when it comes to fines generically across the range, but certainly that $750 mobility infringement is quite significant."

But Bidgood said there was still some people making "not great choices" despite the infringement costs, which he said were not set by Auckland Transport.

"These levels are set at a national level so its nothing that Auckland Transport has any input into... We haven't had a significant fee increase for many many years so I guess they just moving things up to make it as adherent as it needs to be so people make a positive choice rather than a negative choice."

There were about 140 infringements issued across Auckland per hour, which Bidgood said was relatively low in comparison to the population.

He also said staff on the street were just as important as the parking cameras.

"I really need the guys and girls on the street because we got about 4000 requests for service every single month where people are having issues that we attend to."

Examples of issues included vehicles blocking driveways, breaking downs and abandon vehicles, he said.

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