Parking zones, rules, and charges

These changes are part of Council's approach to managing parking as Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink) progresses and as the eventual closure of Riverbank Car Park approaches.

Council developed a Transitional Parking Plan to help manage the impacts of reduced parking during construction.

The expanded HC3 network helps accommodate future demand for all-day parking as Riverbank Car Park closes, ensuring people who need to park for work or other longer visits can continue to access the CBD.

The wider approach to managing parking associated with Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), including the Transitional Parking Plan, was considered through Council's Annual Plan process in 2025.

Council officers developed the proposed parking changes, including the streets to be included in the expanded HC3 parking area. The proposal was presented to Council, where councillors reviewed the recommendations, made changes to the proposed areas and approved the final parking changes in December 2025.

Once the implementation date was confirmed, affected residents and businesses were notified ahead of the changes taking effect.

Council officers assessed a number of streets on the fringe of the CBD to identify suitable locations for additional HC3 parking.

The assessment considered a range of factors, including:

• proximity to the city centre
• existing parking demand
• the availability of off-street parking

The proposed parking areas, including maps of the affected streets, were presented to Council for consideration. Councillors reviewed the recommendations, made changes to the proposed areas and approved the final parking changes in December 2025.

Some of the affected streets are already used extensively for longer-stay parking during the day.

Changing these areas to HC3 helps accommodate future demand for all-day parking as the Riverbank Car Park closes, while maintaining access to the city centre through a balanced mix of short and longer-stay parking.

The aim is to maintain access to the CBD for customers, businesses, workers and visitors as the city changes.

Unrestricted parking remains available on nearby streets, including Bellevue Road, parts of Woburn Road and Hautana Square.

Resident parking permits may be considered as part of a Parking Management Plan (PMP) where there is evidence of sustained parking pressure. Any scheme is assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering local parking demand, off-street parking availability, surrounding parking supply and the broader objectives of ensuring safe, efficient and equitable use of public parking.

Resident parking permits do not guarantee a parking space.

The changes replicate the majority of the parking that will be lost through the eventual closure of the Riverbank Car Park. As such, the same parking controls are being applied.

Parking restrictions on residential streets will be monitored as Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi progresses and as the Riverbank Car Park closes, and Council will consider practical changes that may be required in the future.

The changes replicate the majority of the parking that will be lost through the eventual closure of Riverbank Car Park. As such, the same operating days and charges are being applied.

There is no change to:

• loading zones
• mobility parking
• parking outside paid parking operating hours
• parking charges and operating hours in existing HC3 areas.

The new parking restrictions came into effect on Monday 3 August 2026.

HC3 parking costs:

• $3 per hour
• maximum daily charge of $12
• operating hours are 9am to 5pm, seven days a week.

Outside these times, parking remains unrestricted.

You can pay for parking using:

• a debit or credit card at the parking meter
• the PayMyPark app.

The new HC3 parking areas include sections of:

• Myrtle Street
• Woburn Road
• High Street
• Laings Road
• Bloomfield Terrace
• Downer Street
• Melling Road
• Rutherford Street.

A map showing the affected streets is available on this page.

As part of Council's wider approach to managing parking during Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), the new Daly Street car park is now open, providing additional all-day parking to support access to the city centre.

Council will continue investigating additional parking and transport options as wider city centre works progress.

Council moved to cashless parking meters following repeated vandalism and theft targeting coin-operated machines.

Parking changes will be monitored as Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi progresses and as Riverbank Car Park closes. Monitoring will help inform any future considerations of parking management that may be required.

Areas with Green HC2 zone parking

• Stevens Grove, parallel parks
• Knights Road – Bunny Street to Laings Road
• Queens Drive – Laings Road to Fraser Street
• Fraser Street
• High Street – Fraser Street to Laings Road
• High Street – Laings Road to Waterloo Road
• Ward Street
• Market Grove, north side
• Knights Road, south side – Bloomfield Terrace to Myrtle Street
• Myrtle Street, east side angle parking – Knights Road to Laings Road
• Andrews Avenue
• Dudley Street
• Daly Street – Margaret Street to Andrews Avenue
• Rutherford Street, south end
• High Street – Waterloo Road to Downer Street
• Cornwall Street – Pretoria Street to Kings Crescent
• Cornwall Street, west side – Waterloo Road to Kings Crescent
• Pretoria Street - west end within CBD
• Raroa Road – east of Cornwall Street
• Kings Crescent - Cornwall Street to Queens Drive
• Osborne Place
• Queens Drive – Kings Crescent to Waterloo Road
• Queens Drive – Laings Road to Waterloo Road
• Waterloo Road – Bloomfield Terrace to Queens Drive
• Waterloo Road – Queens Drive to High Street
• Bloomfield Terrace – Kings Crescent to Knights Road
• The Pavilion car park- Laings Road
• Laings Road – Queens Drive to Myrtle Street
• Laings Road – High Street to Queens Drive
• Bunny Street
• Margaret Street

Areas with Yellow HC3 zone parking

• Fountain car park (Laings Road)
• Myrtle Street, west side – Laings Road to Knights Road
• Myrtle Street South (Huia Street to Laings Road)
• Stevens Grove, angle parking portion
• Rutherford Street, south of Queens Drive
• Raroa Road – High Street to Cornwall Street
• Cornwall Street, east side – Kings Crescent to Waterloo Road
• Cornwall Street – Waterloo Road to Knights Road
• Knights Road – Cornwall Street to Bloomfield Terrace
• Knights Road, north side – Myrtle Street to Bloomfield Terrace
• Market Grove, south side

Riverbank Car Park Closure

The northern end of the Riverbank Car Park, including the Rutherford Street entrance, is closed for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (formerly RiverLink) works.

The southern end, accessed from Daly Street, will remain open until January 2027.

For more information on Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi and the work happening in the area visit teawakairangi.co.nz

We’ll share more information on alternative parking options ahead of the full closure of the Riverbank Car Park.

Riverbank Car Park text alerts

You can sign up to receive text alerts when the Riverbank Car Park needs to be closed due to high water or flooding.

To sign up for text alerts:

• Send a text to 027 368 7498
• We do not need your name or any personal information other than your mobile number.

To opt out of text alerts:

• Text Stop to 027 368 7498

High Street in Petone is the only street with a residents' parking zone in Lower Hutt.

This means you have to have a resident's parking permit to park there. If you don't have a permit displayed on your windscreen, you will get a ticket. To apply for a permit, send us an email with your proof of address.

You do not need a residents' parking permit in any other areas in Lower Hutt.