Kia ora, car tower: No more selling vehicles in car parks

Whangarei District Council yesterday began towing away vehicles for sale in an unofficial car market at the city's Kensington Park.
Dozens of cars offered for sale in the Kensington Park carpark on Western Hills Dr on Saturdays have drawn complaints from people having difficulty parking to attend sports games.
Vehicles parked on grass verges in the area could also damage council water and sewerage connections.
In late May the council began putting notices under the windscreen wipers of cars offered for sale, advising they could not be sold there. About a fortnight ago four signs were erected in the carpark warning vehicles would be removed.
Yesterday, council contrac-tors Environmental Northland had two cars towed away. To reclaim them owners can call 438 7513 and pay a fee.
The owner of one of the cars, Jarrod Sills, of Kamo, was surprised when the Advocate called to tell him the Mitsubishi Sigma he was selling had been taken away by a tow-truck.
"You're joking," he said. "That kind of sucks - there's plenty of room there on weekdays."
Mr Sills said he had tried to sell his car by parking it beside State Highway 1 at Kauri, but after being warned it was parked illegally he moved it to Kensington Park.
City car sales businesses have opposed the suggestion the council set up a free parking area for informal car sales, pointing out they pay rates for their premises.
WDC parking enforcement was described as "cost-neutral" last year because it was offset by the $698,000 the council gathered in fines.