More than 35 parking tickets were issued to Zespri AIMS Games supporters on the event’s first day as cars squeezed around Mount Maunganui’s Blake Park.
With Zespri AIMS Games kicking off at the start of the week, seeing more than 22,000 people flood to host venues around Tauranga City, one Mount Maunganui resident is not happy with how visiting sporting supporters have been welcomed.
Nikki Barnard called The Sun after seeing Tauranga City Council parking wardens ticketing vehicles parked on verges around Maunganui Rd, including Hinau St and Kawaka St, near Blake Park.
No inconvenience
“I was just so angry to see a parking warden ticketing people who are at the AIMS Games,” says Nikki, who had been cycling to work.
“They’re parked on the verges, completely off the road, not causing any inconvenience at all – and it’s the only place to park because it’s so busy.
“I’m just really shitty that our council are doing that to all these amazing people who are here to support the AIMS Games…we’ve got these people here who are spending a whole week, spending money, having a good time and there’s nowhere to park. There’s not enough parking.”
Tauranga City Council regulation monitoring team leader Stuart Goodman says council parking officers “had to issue 37 parking tickets on the first day of the Zespri AIMS games for vehicles parked illegally along Hinau Street and Maunganui Road”.
“We know it can be frustrating for people to see visitors being ticketed, but the parking rules are there to keep our roads safe. Berm parking is not currently restricted in the area, however council is issuing tickets for vehicles parked on the footpath, traffic islands and road medians. These are the same parking rules that apply across the country.”
Support for events
Stuart says so far council hasn’t received any calls or complaints from people who have received parking tickets during the AIMS event.
“We have received one complaint from a resident concerned about the illegal parking in the area.”
Nikki says she didn’t see any resident’s driveways blocked or bad parking.
“I’d just like to see the council support these big events.
“We all know there’s not enough parking provided. I don’t see the harm and I actually thought to myself before I saw the parking wardens, how neatly and tidily everyone had parked all safe and fine.”
10 comments
Shameful!
Posted on 08-09-2023 12:43 | By Mommatum
Firstly Stuart Goodman while you still have a job Tauranga doesn’t have a council, and secondly no you didn’t “have to issue parking tickets.” How low and petty can you get. These people are here spending money, bringing business to our city and this is how they are treated. Perhaps instead of trying to justify this shocking form of “hospitality” you could consider the overall reduction of parking spaces throughout Tauranga/The Mount in a mistaken “drive” to force local motorist into buses. Not gonna happen Stuart and as for this all I can say is shameful!
Welcome to Tauranga
Posted on 08-09-2023 13:48 | By Come on TCC!
Revenue gathering at it's finest
Safety first
Posted on 08-09-2023 14:25 | By Mr Kayak
Parking in this fashion endangers the safety of the kids and is selfish. Groups of excited kids spring from blind positions between cars on the traffic islands. The small inconvenience of people going a bit further to park safely is nothing in comparison to a fatality. In the event of an accident Council would be blamed, so its best for them to apply safety principles on behalf of others who don't think.
Parking
Posted on 08-09-2023 14:38 | By surfsup
Anybody with half a brain would realise you have a bit of flexibility at times like this . Then you realise we are talking about Tauranga Council and that thought goes out the window.
Hideous!!! Insane!!!
Posted on 08-09-2023 14:49 | By Bruja
Cancel those tickets! That is a HIDEOUSLY greedy thing to do!!! Stop the greed before this place is in it's coffin! :(
Disgust at TDC
Posted on 08-09-2023 14:56 | By davidt5
I was driving a passenger van in the area on that day and had no problems with any blockages, etc. TDC is just plain greedy for money Same as when Waka Kotahe mentioned a congestion tax. All TDC could do is see the dollars pouring in from the rate-payers.
For TDC money is their god.
Scandelous TCC
Posted on 08-09-2023 17:00 | By BazzaJ
TCC should be promoting business in Tauranga while AIMS Games are on, not finding people in areas that are not normally policed. It is just revenue gathering that drives people away. Absolutely shameless behaviour by TCC.
Souvenir
Posted on 08-09-2023 17:57 | By Kancho
Well something to remind them of Tauranga, how sad for guests in our town . I went to town today and walked around to shop it was notable to see so few people. Empty shops ,shops where staff outnumbered customers or no customers at all. Again sad and wonder how much longer shops can care on . Depressing and such bad planned combined with Cameron road that just goes on forever .
Well done TCC
Posted on 08-09-2023 19:28 | By Mountfan
Totally support council action. The cars on the median strip were a real hazard to seeing oncoming cars on the roundabouts. It really felt unsafe when you drive a low car and not an SUV. It also did not reflect well on visitors to sporting events when they can't park further away and walk their athletes to the venue. As I live in the area I know for a fact there was ample parking down side streets each and every day, but you would have to walk 2+ blocks. It was not parking due to a lack of parking options. I'd also have to add it was poor role modeling by parents. If it's not OK where you're from it's not OK here. Well done TCC.
Hahaha
Posted on 08-09-2023 21:43 | By Let's get real
I don't think that the income from those 35 parking tickets will pay for the free buses, will it...
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