The introduction of free parking in Rotorua's hard-pressed downtown has been hailed as the way forward for Tauranga's CBD.
Rotorua has decided to spend $650,000 on "Smart Eye" technology so that although parking was free, sensors under every carpark emitted a signal whenever the car exceeded the time limit. A parking warden was then directed to the carpark.
It was part of a package of measures to encourage shoppers back into Rotorua's downtown which has taken a huge hit since the free-parking Central Mall opened. There were 90 to 100 empty shops.
Tauranga councillor Murray Guy said Rotorua had picked up on a new way of thinking which would solve the inequity of people having to pay for parking in Tauranga's downtown whereas it was free everywhere else.
If it was a choice between paying and not paying, the retail centres that offered free parking won nine times out of 10, he said.