Parking charge relief for Waiheke drivers

Auckland City Council may cut the charges for parking at the Matiatia ferry terminal on Waiheke island.

A council committee has recommended the fee at the back of Matiatia carpark be $3 a day, half the present flat rate for the whole carpark, and that the temporary carpark on Ocean View Rd - at present $3 a day - be free.

The full council will consider the recommendations on May 25. If endorsed, the new charges will take effect on July 1.

Councillor Richard Simpson said the committee was responding to the "very clear message" from commuters that some of the fees are too high.

The charges were implemented to fund the council's $12.5 million takeover of Waitemata Infrastructure, which stopped the company from going ahead with unpopular development plans.

But local residents responded by cramming into buses and vandalising the carpark pay-and-display machines.