Paihia gears up for hi-tech parking

**UPDATE – Thursday 28 November**

We’ve received feedback from the community asking that the 10-minute grace period for free parking at the Williams Road carpark be extended. Far North Holdings has taken that feedback onboard. When the new payment system starts on 1 December, the grace period for free parking will be 30 minutes.

New technology is driving a new, modernised parking payment system arriving in Paihia.

The new payment system to be installed at the Williams Road carpark will use license plate recognition technology similar to what is already in use at the Bay of Islands Airport but without barrier arms.

From 1 December 2024, drivers can use multiple payment options, including a cashless on-site parking machine, a mobile phone app, and online payment.

The carpark is open 24 hours and has 160 parking spaces available, including spaces for campervans. The carpark, which includes public toilets, is very popular during the peak summer tourism season, as it is close to both the Paihia central business district and beachfront.

The aim of the new payment system is to significantly reduce unpaid parking fees. The new system will include a 10-minute free access period allowing drivers to traverse through the car park and conduct brief stops. Increased revenue that will be collected using the system will help pay for maintenance of the carpark. The parking fee will remain unchanged for the 2025 financial year.