• Auckland Transport has pushed back the plan to implement overnight parking charges in the CBD to March 2026.
• Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck said AT should be commended for listening to businesses and stakeholders.
• The initial plan provoked a furore, causing AT to back down after a telling-off from Mayor Wayne Brown.

Auckland Transport has announced free overnight parking will remain in place for the city centre until March 2026, again delaying a controversial move to raise money.

Last year, parkers were set to face hourly rates all day and through the night, whereas previously parking had been free in many parts of the city on Sundays and outside the hours of 8am-6pm.

The new overnight charge would have been $2-$3 per hour, depending on the inner-city zone.

The proposed changes drew the ire of Mayor Wayne Brown, who criticised the organisation’s plans to create different parking zones.

“I’m sick of it. [Auckland Transport] have got to start listening ... I did tell them the other day, ‘Don’t do that, I want a full parking strategy’,” he said.

In October, the organisation backed down and delayed the changes, apologising to the mayor for inadequate communication with stakeholders.

Auckland Transport Parking Services group manager John Strawbridge said the organisation listened to communities and stakeholders before announcing the delay. Photo / Chris Gorman

Now Auckland Transport (AT) announced the hourly on-street overnight charge won’t be introduced until March 2026 when it will be set at $1-$2 per hour.

“The higher cost will be charged in areas of higher demand. This is part of AT’s ongoing parking management programme and is designed to keep the city moving and thriving at night,” AT said.

The organisation said the changes would be implemented nearer to the City Rail Link opening date following feedback from stakeholders and communities,

“Managing parking through time restrictions and pricing values our limited space and helps free up parking spaces for those who need to use them,” AT’s parking services group manager John Strawbridge said.

“It also ensures those using the parking space are paying a small share of the associated costs.

“In the city centre, managing parking enables people to be able to easily access businesses and apartments at any time of day or night. The city does not go to sleep at 6pm. Part of this is ensuring that there is at least one parking space available on every street in our city centre.”

AT heard a range of views and conflicting priorities from the city’s businesses, residents and workers, Strawbridge said.

“We believe waiting until March next year to introduce the new charges helps to balance re-energising the city centre along with ensuring our limited road space can be used by everyone fairly.”

Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck praised AT for taking on board feedback about city centre overnight parking.

“It was far from ideal when plans to charge for overnight parking were thrust on the community last year,” she said.

“After everything the city centre has dealt with in recent years, this is not the time to be introducing charges of this nature. Fortunately, AT has listened and recognised the importance of supporting economic recovery.

“Importantly this will be closer to the opening of the City Rail Link, which we signalled as a significant milestone that needed to be taken into account in their decision-making.”

Hospitality New Zealand also voiced its support for the delay, saying it provided central city workers and patrons with certainty.

“We appreciate Auckland Transport’s willingness to listen to the concerns of our members and the wider community, and to be flexible in their approach,” CEO Steve Armitage said.