New paid parking areas for Lower Hutt CBD

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CouncilServices

Published: 21 July 2026

Hutt City Council is introducing paid parking to new areas around the edge of the central Lower Hutt business district from early August.

The changes will help improve parking turnover and make it easier for more people to find a park close to shops, businesses and services.

Some of these streets currently have free all-day parking, limiting availability for other visitors throughout the day.

The changes were approved by Council in December 2025 as part of preparations for the wider Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink) programme and the future closure of the Riverbank carpark.

The move to a user-pays model will create fairer access to parking while helping manage growing pressure on the city centre. if we don’t manage parking demand now, the pressure only gets worse as city centre works progress and pressure on parking spaces increases.

It will also improve vehicle turnover so more people can access local businesses and services throughout the day.

The move to a user-pays model will create fairer access to parking while helping manage growing pressure on the city centre. if we don’t manage parking demand now, the pressure only gets worse as city centre works progress and pressure on parking spaces increases.

It will also improve vehicle turnover so more people can access local businesses and services throughout the day, reduce pressure on rates and avoid Council adding further costs for ratepayers across the city.

The new HC2 and HC3 paid parking areas will:

  • Begin from 3 August 2026
  • Apply to selected sections of Myrtle, High, Downer and Rutherford streets, Woburn, Laings and Melling roads and Bloomfield Tce.
  • Operate seven days a week from 9am to 5pm
  • Cost $3 per hour
  • Have a maximum daily charge of $12
  • Remain unrestricted outside paid parking hours

Existing mobility parks, loading zones and pick-up/drop-off spaces are not changing.

Parking meters and signage will be installed during July ahead of the changes taking effect. Drivers will be able to pay using debit or credit card at parking meters or through the PayMyPark app.

More information, including parking maps and FAQs, can be found here