Two hours free parking could return to Hamilton CBD

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

‘Parking is a key part of making the city accessible,’ Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe says.

The popular two hours free parking scheme could return to Hamilton CBD as the mayor looks to make good on an election promise.

Details on re-introducing the scheme could be announced by the end of the week, the Waikato Times understands.

Mayor Tim Macindoe, who pushed for the change during his election campaign, told the Waikato Times “we’ve heard clearly from the community that the current system isn’t working”.

“We have a wonderful city centre, and I want to see people out there enjoying it,’’ he said.

Hamilton City Council previously had a two hours free in the CBD parking plan, introduced in October 2017.

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams advocates for 2 hours free parking for Hamilton CBD.

“Parking is a key part of making the city accessible… Many people find CBD parking too complicated, and the cost and limited access are putting them off coming into the city.”

The return of two-hour free parking now features in the mayor’s plan for the 2026/27 Annual Plan - the original plan estimates July 2026 for implementation.

Paid parking can be a mental barrier, Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams says.

The mayor’s proposal will be pretested before HCC starts LTP discussions on April 2.

Macindoe said he was working with colleagues, aiming to reach “a sustainable long‑term solution for parking through the Long Term Plan”.

Meanwhile, other parking amendments are being considered in the short term, including the removal of yellow and green pricing zones and having a set rate for third and subsequent hours of CBD parking.

Some short-term parking changes are also being proposed.

Businesses will be happy about the two-hour free parking return and the removal of other parking changes that remove barriers for potential customers, Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams says.

“It's such a convenience to be able to pop in and do things and not have to think about payment, that I do think it will be welcomed.

“Paid parking can be a mental barrier for people when you have to be thanking in one hour increments. It's not really a payment thing. It's just a mindset.’’

Williams is also keen for the parking changes to cover the whole of the city centre, which is at present split into green and yellow zones.

The city is currently split into green and yellow CBD parking zones, but that could go.

More details about the proposed short-term parking changes are contained in a report being considered by the council’s Central City Revitalisation sub-committee (another initiative of the Mayor’s Plan).

It highlights several issues with the current paid or restrictive systems, which are causing friction including public safety concerns and “recurring anti-social behaviour’’ resulting in ”unattractive and underutilised’’ spaces.

A more in-depth review of central city parking will also be undertaken by the CBD Revitalisation sub-committee, to ensure central city visitors can find suitable parking; good turnover is maintained; and that parking payment options are easy to access and understand.

Separately, a revised parking scheme for Barton Street, which is now being consulted on, involves the introduction of angle parking on its western side.

Results from that consultation are due to be reported to the Transport Subcommittee on May 26.