Parking wardens sign of normality in quake city

Parking enforcement had operated in Christchurch in a limited way from early April. File photo / NZ Herald

You know daily life is starting to return to normal in earthquake-hit Christchurch when parking wardens are dishing out tickets again.

After a lengthy grace period following the devastating February 22 quake, the wardens were yesterday on the hunt for parking infringers in the city's non-metered time-restricted zones, loading zones, bus/tour coach stops and taxi stands, and on the likes of broken yellow lines.

Many of the city's carparking buildings or parking areas are still out of action because of damage from the quake, forcing motorists to fight for whatever spaces they can get.

The Christchurch City Council is now also trying to recover outstanding ticket payments for parking offences committed before the quake. Enforcement of metered carparks is set to get under way again early next month.

Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale said while parking wardens were often regarded as "Nazis", they obviously had to a job to do. The key thing was how that job was handled after the quake, he said.

Parking enforcement had operated in Christchurch in a limited way from early April, with wardens leaving only warning flyers on cars instead of parking tickets, said council manager of inspections and enforcement Gary Lennan.

"We are now getting requests, particularly from the business community who have re-established themselves back in the central business district, for us to enforce a wider range of parking offences across the city," Mr Lennan said.

"It's detrimental for businesses if cars park over their allotted time in the limited number of parking spaces available. Businesses need parking space turnover to ensure customers have available parking."