On-street parking

On-street parking in central Hamilton includes free parking, hourly paid parking, all-day paid parking, and mobility parking areas.

On-street hourly paid parking applies between Monday - Saturday, 8am - 8pm. You don't need to enter your number plate at a kiosk or on the PayMyPark app when you park outside of these hours. It's free to park on Sundays and on public holidays.

Free time-limited parking (e.g. P60, P120) is also provided throughout the central city, and applies between Monday - Saturday, 8am - 8pm.

Customers visiting our Garden Place office at 260 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, can park for a short time for free in the Council carpark on Anglesea Street behind the main building.

Parking is monitored by a vehicle with licence plate recognition technology, with support from our Parking Officers.

1 October parking changes

On-street parking in the central city is free for the first hour from 1 October 2024.

Even if you’re only staying an hour, you must enter your number plate at a kiosk or on the PayMyPark app during the on-street parking hours (Monday - Saturday, 8am - 8pm).

There are two new parking zones.

The second hour of parking costs $1 in the yellow zone and $3 in the green zone. The third hour onwards remains at $6 per hour.

Parking zones and kiosk locations

Street signs and green or yellow stickers on the kiosks will let you know whether you’ve parked in the green or a yellow zone.

If you've parked in the yellow zone, you must use a kiosk located in the yellow zone. If you've parked in the green zone, you must use a kiosk located in the green zone.

Different parking zones have been introduced as Council moves towards a new way of managing parking to ensure availability for the public and turnover for businesses. This is based off data that shows occupancy and where the highest demand for parking spaces is.

Find out more about how parking zones and prices may change overtime and why here.

Steps to use the kiosks

PayMyPark app

You can use the PayMyPark app on your phone to get one-hour free parking and pay for more time.

To view the fees for topping up your account, visit PayMyPark.

Download the free app for iOS or Android

All-day paid parking

All-day paid parking is available for commuters or those who wish to stay in the central city longer.

Parking costs $6 between Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.

You can park in one spot all day or park within the same parking area (e.g. Nisbet Street) multiple times in a day for $6.

One-hour free parking is not included with all-day paid parking.

Payment can only be made through the PayMyPark app.

All-day paid parking areas

Over time, all-day paid parking will be included in price changes based on demand.

View more information here.

Parking infringement and towage fee increases

Central Government is increasing the parking infringement and towage fees nationwide from 1 October 2024.

It's important every driver understands the Governments changes and continues to follow the parking rules to avoid any fine.

Click to read the Government's announcement

Click for a full list of fee increases

For more information on where you cannot park, visit NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)

Fees, charges, and parking durations

Here’s a list of parking-related fees for Council-operated car parks.

On-street Parking
All Day Paid Parking
Demand Responsive Pricing (DRP)	per day	DRP $3.00 to $12.00

On-Street Short Term Parking
Demand Responsive Pricing (DRP) - From 1 October 2024 to 30 June 2026	per hour, first hour	Free

per hour, after first hour

DRP $1.00 to $6.00

Demand Responsive Pricing (DRP) - From 1 July 2026	per hour	DRP $1.00 to $6.00
Parking space reservation permits
long-term reservation (more than 2 weeks)	per day	negotiated rate
short-term reservation (less than 2 weeks)	per day	$36.00

Frequently asked questions

What can I do if I think a vehicle is parked illegally?

If there is a vehicle that you believe is parked illegally, you can contact our Customer Service team on 07 838 6699.

Examples of illegal parking include:

parked facing the wrong way on the street

parked over or within one metre of a driveway

parked on yellow lines

illegally parked in a mobility space.

One of our parking staff will check the situation as soon as they are free to do so and will prioritise vehicles left in a dangerous, unsafe condition or location.

If the illegally-parked vehicle is parked on private property (i.e. not on a public roadside or footpath), you will need to contact the property owner to let them know about the situation. 

How do I pay a parking fine?

For questions specifically about paying a parking ticket visit our pay a parking ticket page.

Why don't you just make all parking free?

Experience around the world indicates that free parking in a city can mean inner city workers take the parks up all day and don't leave any available for shoppers. Not charging for the first hour means parking is free for most shoppers but still encourages turnover of parks.

Who can I contact if my vehicle has been towed?

If you think we may have towed your vehicle, contact our Customer Service team by calling 07 838 6699 during office hours, emailing info@hcc.govt.nz, or use the Antenno App to contact them (available to download free on the App Store or Google Play).

One of our parking staff will check the situation as soon as they are free to do so.
Others you can contact to find out who has towed your vehicle include: