Masterton is getting new parking meters that will have:

• card payment,
• app payment,
• cash payment, and
• lots of features that make them more useable for everyone.

You might have seen the orange hoods on lots of our current meters. These are broken and they're so old that no one in NZ can service them or get parts anymore.

We put $350,000 in the the 2025-26 Annual Plan budget for this upgrade and we're doing it at the same time as the CBD watermain to reduce disruption.

Visit the website to see a map of where they are now and leave a comment to let us know if they should be in different places.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still pay with cash? 
Yes, some meters will still accept coins.

Will the price of parking go up? 
No, there is currently no plan to increase parking fees however if you choose to pay by card there will likely be an electronic transaction fee.

Why is there a fee for paying by card? 
Electronic payments have a processing fee charged by banks, this cost is passed on to the user.

Can I use my phone to pay for parking? 
Yes, there will be an app available for iPhone and Android from your app store.

Can I still appeal a ticket?
If you've received a parking ticket and don't think it's right, you will be able to appeal it. You have 28 days from the time the parking ticket is issued to submit an appeal.
Grounds for appeal:

• You paid for parking but still received a ticket
• You parked in a mobility car park but forgot to display your mobility permit
• The parking meter was faulty
• Someone else was lawfully or unlawfully in charge of your car
• Your car broke down
• There was a medical emergency
• You've been ticketed for an expired warrant of fitness or registration

Where can I park for free? 
There are over 700 free parks in the Masterton CBD.

• Check out the online map.
• Download the free Discover Whakaoriori app (no registration required)
• See a PDF on the website parking page.
• Or pick up a hardcopy from any Council location.

What happens if I pay for my park and then move my car? Do I have to pay again? 
No, with the pay by plate system you pay for your vehicle not for your park. So if you pay for one hour of parking, you can move your car during that time and still be covered by the same payment.

What does pay by plate mean? 
Pay by plate means your transaction is linked directly to your vehicle and not the park you are in.

What will happen to the old meters? 
If there is community interest in the parking meters then these will be sold, otherwise they will be scrapped.

Will my disability badge still entitle me to extended parking time? 
Yes you will still get extra time. 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.

What happens to in-person parking meter guards?

The current parking wardens aren’t council employees, they are contractors who work for First Security. It's likely that there will still be some in-person enforcement for things like mobility parks.

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