Parking fees are set to begin at Aoraki\/Mt Cook, Punakaiki\/Pancake Rocks and Franz Josef\/Wairau in December.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a pilot programme expected to last until June 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect a final date to be announced at the end of the month [November] following the install and testing on paid parking equipment,\u201d Department of Conservation director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson said.<\/p>\n
How much will parking cost?<\/p>\n
Parking will be $5 per hour.<\/p>\n
The first 20 minutes will be free to allow for drop-offs and pick-ups or people staying for a brief time.<\/p>\n
For Aoraki\/Mt Cook there will be a daily rate of $25 per day, while at Franz Josef and Punakaiki there will be a daily rate of $20.<\/p>\n
Commercial tourism operators who hold a valid concession will be granted a parking fee exemption during the pilot.<\/p>\n
Will locals have to pay to park?<\/p>\n
Yes, but local district residents can get a lower-cost annual pass.<\/p>\n
There will be annual passes for locals \u2013 $10 a year per vehicle \u2013 that allow for unlimited access. For Franz Josef and Punakaiki, residents from the Buller, Grey and Westland districts will be eligible, while for Aoraki\/Mt Cook it\u2019s those living within the Mackenzie District.<\/p>\n
Regular visitors to the regions who aren\u2019t residents of those districts can also get an annual pass for $60 a year.<\/p>\n
Wilson said free parking for locals was one of the options considered, but, \u201cin the end, the cost of the local permit is set low to acknowledge the special relationship residents have with their whenua\u201d.<\/p>\n
The parking strategy was adopted after considering information from stakeholders, public submissions, market research and evaluating more than 40 carparks around the world, including 16 in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe market research helped us understand typical rates and fee structures for paid parking at similar sites, and one finding was that the average hourly charge for car parking internationally is $6.40 per hour,\u201d DoC said in its analysis.<\/p>\n
The group Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) consulted on the proposal.<\/p>\n
\u201cTIA supports user charges where they directly contribute to maintaining and improving infrastructure, but only when they are fair and enhance the visitor experience,\u201d chief executive Rebecca Ingram said.<\/p>\n
Ingram said the TIA would \u201cwelcome the introduction of low-cost annual passes for New Zealand residents, which ensures Kiwis can continue to access public conservation spaces affordably\u201d.<\/p>\n
While the fees may surprise some, they aren\u2019t the first parking fees for popular attractions. Milford Sound has charged $10 an hour since 2019 for some of its parking lots operated by Milford Sound Tourism.<\/p>\n
Milford Sound has charged for some parking since 2019. Photo \/ Creative Commons<\/p>\n
What happens if you don\u2019t pay?<\/p>\n
There won\u2019t be any towing or wheel clamps used, according to DoC\u2019s engagement report.<\/p>\n
Cameras will record the entry and exit of vehicles and their registration information.<\/p>\n
Parking fees will be enforced by outside company Stellar Projects, which is installing the paid parking hardware.<\/p>\n
But considering many tourists will be from overseas, how exactly will breach notices be enforced?<\/p>\n
Wilson said DoC plans to make the parking process easy and understandable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe primary goal is to make parking payment as simple and accessible as possible for visitors, which will minimise the need for issuing breach notices. Measures in place include offering multiple payment options where feasible, providing clear and obvious signage, and using universal, icon-based messaging with large touch screens on the parking machines.\u201d<\/p>\n
If tourists are using a rental car and get a breach notice, Stellar can follow up with the rental company, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of rental cars, standard car rental agreements typically enable the rental business to directly charge a driver\u2019s credit card for parking, toll roads, petrol top-up and other miscellaneous items.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditionally, Stellar does have relationships and agreed methodology with some rental providers to collect breach fees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Franz Josef is one of the areas in the pilot programme. Photo \/ RNZ, Tess Brunton<\/p>\n
How much will this new parking programme cost?<\/p>\n
DoC has said the pilot programme will cost an estimated $3.8 million, funded from the International Tourism Levy.<\/p>\n
But it also said the expected revenue over the pilot period from December to June 2026 would be about $1.5 million.<\/p>\n
Wilson said there is some cost outlay involved in starting up the plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are several one-off costs: some investment is going into the carparks themselves and some investment has gone into developing processes and installing the hardware required. These are all initial, one-off costs that won\u2019t be ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said if paid parking continues after the trial run, the plan would quickly pay for its start-up costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust under half of the $3.8m sum is expected to be collected during the seven-month pilot. If the recommendation from the pilot is to continue with paid parking in certain sites, we expect the initial outlay to be easily made back in another year.\u201d<\/p>\n
What will the money be used for?<\/p>\n
Although some have called for the funds to be used exclusively for the areas covered by the parking fees, they\u2019ll be used throughout the wider conservation network.<\/p>\n
\u201cBiodiversity and visitor network projects exist throughout the country, and DOC will use this revenue where it is most needed,\u201d DOC said in its feedback report.<\/p>\n
Hasn\u2019t DoC had a lot of funding cuts lately?<\/p>\n
Yes. As part of the Government\u2019s cost-cutting directive, DoC was asked to find savings of 6.5% \u2013 $31.3m per year.<\/p>\n
The agency has also reported a shortfall in funding to maintain its tracks and huts throughout the visitors\u2019 network.<\/p>\n
There have also been dozens of job cuts at the agency.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the Government has pledged to boost events and tourism with an investment of about $70m.<\/p>\n
The Government also plans to unleash growth on conservation land, including opening up more concessions.<\/p>\n
The Pancake Rocks walkway at Dolomite Point, Punakaiki. Photo \/ Greymouth Star, Brendon McMahon<\/p>\n
What do people think of the fees?<\/p>\n
DoC heard from more than 150 submitters during a public engagement process, with the biggest concerns being that locals, volunteers and school groups shouldn\u2019t have to pay for parking, and the area eligible for local permits should be expanded to the entire West Coast.<\/p>\n
At the moment, the area eligible for permits will be restricted to the local districts.<\/p>\n
At Punakaiki\u2019s Pancake Rocks, cafe owner Grant Parrett has protested the parking charges will penalise locals and are essentially an unlawful fee to enter a national park.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose $5 an hour is not very much, but any paid parking is still enough to put the casual visitors off stopping and that will hurt local businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealanders don\u2019t like paying for parking,\u201d Parrett said.<\/p>\n
However, locals will be allowed to park free of charge for 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the majority of the [public] submissions would have come from Punakaiki,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that people might feel aggrieved \u2013 no one likes paying for parking \u2013 but we\u2019re trying to work out how to run DoC facilities that are costing us increasingly more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tourism operators say the parking costs should not be a major barrier.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile operators are mindful of cumulative visitor costs, based on comparable international-visitor park-fee proposals, eg, US$25 [$44.50]\/day, we believe the proposed charge is unlikely to be a major barrier to most international tourists,\u201d the tourism group TIA\u2019s Ingram said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pilot is an opportunity to test how this goes, and we look forward to working with DoC on the insights it provides and any future changes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other fees are in place or coming for foreign tourists. Photo \/ RNZ, Marika Khabazi<\/p>\n
Aren\u2019t foreign visitors going to be charged additional fees to visit some places, too?<\/p>\n
Yes, but that\u2019s likely a year or two in the future.<\/p>\n
The Government has announced it is planning to introduce new foreign visitor charges at Milford Sound, Aoraki\/Mount Cook, Mautohe Cathedral Cove and Tongariro Alpine Crossing.<\/p>\n
Foreign visitor fees are already common in many countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free,\u201d Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said, calling it \u201conly fair\u201d that foreign visitors make an additional payment.<\/p>\n
The earliest visitor fees would be introduced is summer 2027, a spokesperson for Potaka\u2019s office has previously told RNZ.<\/p>\n
In the announcement, a fee figure of between $20 and $40 was given.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess charging for international visitors is approximately two years away as legislation is yet to be drafted,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Parking and access fees could be combined eventually, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be further engagement with stakeholders on access charging during that time, including the combination of international visitor entry fees and charging for car parks in certain sites.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parking fees and foreign visitor fees aren\u2019t the only charges going up for tourists.<\/p>\n
The International Tourism Levy the Government charges to most overseas tourists was raised last year from $35 to $100.<\/p>\n
The TIA spoke out against that rise at the time, warning it could \u201ccreate a significant barrier\u201d and lead to fewer tourist arrivals.<\/p>\n
Are more places going to get parking fees?<\/p>\n
Once the trial is completed in July, DoC will make a decision as to whether or not to continue and expand paid parking to other sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is standard practice at many national parks overseas,\u201d Wilson has said about parking fees.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost international visitors accept this as a necessary contribution to support the amazing nature they come to New Zealand to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 RNZ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Parking fees are set to begin at Aoraki\/Mt Cook, Punakaiki\/Pancake Rocks and Franz Josef\/Wairau in December. It\u2019s a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":148365,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1443,1975,138,68195,26774,12470,6036,5971,117,111,139,69,30205,61,17489,6923,197,80],"class_list":["post-148364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-about","tag-at","tag-business","tag-destinations","tag-dirga","tag-fees","tag-know","tag-need","tag-new","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-parking","tag-to","tag-tourist","tag-what","tag-you","tag-zealand"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/148365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}