Parking changes parked for further consideration

Published on 20 January 2026

Planned changes to the 1-hour free parking in the Oamaru CBD and a consultation on extending metered parking have been put on hold, ahead of the February 17 meeting of full Council.

In May 2025, the previous Council approved replacing Oamaru’s parking meters, consulting with the community on extending metered parking to other areas of the Historic Precinct and Harbour, and a 6-month trial of changing the CBD’s 1-hour free parking to a 15-minute courtesy period to pay at a machine, or using the PayMyPark App.

However, the Mayor and Councillors have asked for a pause in the trial change to free parking time. A paper will be brought to Council at the first meeting of 2026 recommending a pause until a more developed parking strategy can be presented later this year.

Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said, “We’ve heard the community express concern about trial changes to parking in the CBD, which is why we’ve asked for this pause and more information.  We’re not ruling out a future change in the 1-hour free parking in town, as we try to reduce the ratepayer contribution to the cost of maintaining our car parks.”

Chief Executive Alex Parmley said, “The current resolution of the previous Council directed us to reduce 1-hour free parking to a 15-minute courtesy period and consult on extending metered parking. However, with the request for a paper at February’s meeting, it’s right to press pause until the current Council has provided us with further direction.”

There will be no changes to the 1-hour free parking in the Oamaru CBD, and the planned consultation on extending metered parking is also on hold – ahead of the February 17, 2026, meeting.

ENDS

media@waitaki.govt.nz