There are lots of places to park in Masterton, these spots are a mixture of free, metered and restricted on street parking depending on the location.
Most of our meters are multibay, this means that several parking spaces are controlled by one parking meter. The spaces are numbered on the footpath in front of the parking space and an arrow indicates the direction of the parking meter. These parks are limited to 2 hours and the meters take coins for payment. Parking meters operate between 8 – 5 Monday to Friday, and 9 – 12 on Saturday.
In restricted parking spaces, check the time limits whenever you park your car – the time limits are displayed on blue P signs. Whenever you’re parking in Masterton, please remember:
- To read and follow parking signs.
- Don’t stop or park on broken yellow lines, bus stops, taxi stands or other restricted parking areas.
- Don’t park in loading zones if you are in a private vehicle – only to load or unload.
- Read the signs carefully when parking at events; special restrictions may apply.
- Always follow the directions on meters.
Parking Fine Payments
Infringement fees need to be paid within 28 days from when the infringement was issued. You can:
Pay online (Include the ticket number as reference)
Pay by cash, cheque or eftpos at 161 Queen Street
Post a cheque to:
Masterton District Council
PO Box 444
Masterton 5840
Cheques should be made payable to Masterton District Council and should show the ticket number and vehicle registration on the reverse of the cheque.
What happens if I don’t pay my fine?
A reminder notice will be sent giving you a further 28 days for payment. If the fine is still unpaid after 28 days, the infringement is sent to the Masterton District Court and court costs of $30 are added. You will need to deal directly with the court to pay the fine.
Can I dispute my parking infringement?
You can fill in a parking infringement explanation form (PDF, 37KB) and send it to us with any evidence to support your explanation, such as a WOF receipt or registration. You can also fill out an electronic version of this form.
If the Council has written to you explaining that they did not accept your explanation, you can:
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Pay the infringement fee without any additional charges.
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Write to the Council and ask that the case be dealt with in court by way of written submission, this means you do not appear in court. This option is only available if you plead guilty but feel you have a good reason that may excuse you.
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Write to the Council asking for a court hearing and plead not guilty. You will appear before community magistrates who will hear evidence given by the Council’s witnesses and then evidence from you. The evidence will be considered and a decision will be made regarding the charge(s).
If you plead guilty (option 2 above) or are found guilty (option 3 above) of the charge, the court will order you to pay the fine and any other costs ordered by the court.
Parking Restriction Guidelines
There are two main types of roadside parking signs, these are:
White signs with red borders that apply all the time and;
Blue signs with white writing which apply every day 8am – 6pm excluding public holidays unless otherwise stated.
You should read and follow the instructions on these signs to avoid a fine.
Other actions that could result in a fine are:
- Unless angle parking is provided for, always park parallel to the road and as close as you can to the left. You can’t angle park anywhere that isn’t marked as angle parking.
- Parking next to another parked vehicle (double parking) on a roadway except in a designated space.
- Not parking inside the white lines of a park, if any part of your vehicle extends beyond these lines it is considered an offence.
- Stopping or parking your vehicle anywhere that it will obstruct the kerb or footpath.
- Parking your vehicle in the opposite direction of the flow of traffic.
- Stopping or waiting on broken yellow lines. You may see these lines at: pedestrian crossings, intersections, bus stops, taxi stands, narrow or winding roads.
Your infringement notice will show:
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Details of your vehicleDate and time infringement was issued
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Location where the vehicle was parked at the time
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Alleged offence
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Fee payable
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Notes to the defendant are printed on the reverse side of the ticket
Blocked Vehicle Entrances
Vehicles aren’t allowed to park within one metre of, or over, a vehicle entrance. If someone has parked across your vehicle entrance and you can’t enter or exit a property, call us on 06 370 6300. It’s illegal to park over your own or any other vehicle entrance.
Vehicles, trailers and caravans parked too long outside a property
In the case of vehicles like cars, motorcycles and vans, there is no time limit as to how long they can be parked outside a property without being moved unless they’re on a restricted parking space.
If there’s a vehicle that’s been parked outside your house for an unusual amount of time and you’re concerned about it, check with the police to see if the vehicle has been reported stolen. If there is no warrant of fitness and/or licence label, call us on 06 370 6300 because the vehicle might be abandoned.
Unlicensed or unwarranted vehicles, trailers and caravans
All vehicles, trailers and caravans must display a current warrant of fitness and licence label to be parked on or travel on the road. Failure to do so can mean a $200 infringement and these can be issued by parking wardens or the police.
Vehicles that are unwarranted or unlicensed and that appear to be abandoned will not be towed immediately. The Council will try to contact the vehicle’s owners to give them the opportunity to remove the vehicle. This is a requirement under the Local Government Act 1974, Section 356.
If an unlicensed or unwarranted vehicle is being used (driven or ridden) on the road, please contact the police.
Other Situations
Infringement notices can be issued for a variety of traffic offences, including parking on broken yellow lines, parking facing the wrong direction, parking on grass verges or on the footpath, overstaying in a time-limited zone, parking in an area reserved for a particular class of vehicle, mobility parking spaces, double parking or parking on traffic islands.
The words “At All Times” on any sign means 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Blue “P” signs with, for example, P60 or P30 apply 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Sunday.
If you see a vehicle breaching traffic regulations, or you are being hindered because of someone else’s vehicle breaching a traffic regulation, you can always call us on 06 3706300 to see how the Parking Services team can sort out the situation.
Mobility Parking
If you have a disability you can apply for a mobility parking permit or card. Visit the CCS site for more information about permits and how to apply.
If you are parked in a mobility spot your card needs to be clearly displayed on the dashboard with the membership number visible. This includes public and private car parks, like shopping malls, hospitals and supermarkets. Abuse of the concession can result in your membership being cancelled. If you’re given a ticket and your card hasn’t been displayed correctly, the infringement will stand.
A mobility card gives you 50% extra parking time per visit. For example, a vehicle parked in a P120 space will have 180 minutes of parking time and a vehicle parked in a P30 location can park for 45 minutes, provided the mobility card is displayed on the dashboard and visible from the outside of the vehicle.
If the mobility park is on a metered space you will still need to pay the parking meter and you will be entitled to an extra 50% of the time paid.
Abandoned Vehicles
A vehicle is the responsibility of its last registered owner. The council will charge the last owner of an abandoned vehicle, where they are identified, with the cost of removal and disposal.
A vehicle may be considered abandoned if:
- It is parked on a public roadway, and
- It has been there for an unusual length of time, and
- The owner cannot be located, and/or
- It is of derelict appearance
Reporting an abandoned vehicle
You can call us to report an abandoned vehicle on 06 370 6300. Please have as much of the following information available as you can:
- Where is the vehicle located?
- What is the vehicle’s make, model, colour and registration number?
- How long has the vehicle been there?
- Do you know the name of the vehicle’s owner?
Removal of Abandoned Vehicles
When the Council receives a complaint of an abandoned vehicle it will be checked and photographed. If we can identify the owner, they will be contacted either by police or by mail and given seven days to remove the vehicle unless it is:
In a dangerous position
Likely to be damaged by vandals
Obstructing a public way
In these circumstances, or if the vehicle is not removed by the owner in the seven days, the vehicle will be removed and stored at the owner’s cost. If we can’t find the owner, the car will be disposed of either to the dump or to metal recyclers to recover towing costs.
Reclaiming vehicles
A vehicle that’s been removed as abandoned won’t be returned to the owner until the cost of towage and storage has been repaid in full.