Anger over parking fee

Natalie Smith brings her car to the city just once a week. Photo / Doug Sherring

Cash-strapped commuters are angry about a more than 300 per cent increase in fees at the Wilson parking building at Carlaw Park, Parnell, from $56 to $236 a month.

Karen Shepherd, who parks there before walking to work in Queen St, described the increase as ridiculous.

David Boyens, general manager of Carrier Air Conditioners said the monthly bills for each of its eight parks had risen from $202 to $258.

"When we signed up we asked if the fees were likely to go up and they said yes, so it wasn't unexpected." However, the size of the increase was a surprise, he said.

Auckland University student Tahau Thompson started using the car park because of a year-long promotion, charging $5 or $6 a day. After a few months that rose to about $15. "I don't really have a choice because it's the closest covered carpark to uni," he said.

New Zealand chief executive of the Wilson Group Joseph Philip Griffin said Wilson managed the site on behalf of the property owner, which increased rates once new offices at Carlaw Park were completed.

All tenants were given five weeks' warning and the chance to switch to earlybird parking at $9 a day or to an alternative site nearby.

"We regret that our customers have been subjected to such a large rate increase," he said. "While we understand that the letter may have come as a shock to some, we believe we have complied with our obligations to inform our customers." The building owners did not return calls.

The Herald on Sunday's annual survey of Auckland parking rates found the highest hourly rate - $15 - was at the Wilson site on Hobson St. A Wilson spokeswoman said changes were determined by numbers using the carpark.

Natalie Smith, 20, from West Auckland, who parked in the company's Elliott St site, said she could afford to drive into the city only once a week.

Tournament parking manager James Brown said the company had increased daily rates at several sites by $1 but monthly rates remained the same.

The cheapest hourly rate is $2, at Auckland City Council's ParkRight sites on Karangahape Rd and Fanshawe St.