Parking in Upper Hutt
Parking in Upper Hutt is managed by Upper Hutt City Council to keep our city centre safe, accessible, and easy to get around.
Parking in the City Centre is free, with a mix of short-stay and longer-stay options available. Time limits apply in busy areas to keep spaces turning over.
Our parking wardens monitor these zones, along with mobility spaces, loading zones, bus stops, and other regulated areas, to ensure parking is shared fairly and safely.
We also support a range of transport needs, including mobility parking, bike parking, EV charging spaces, and the use of licence plate recognition technology to keep parking efficient and consistent.
Parking wardens are authorised to enforce stationary vehicle rules, including unwarranted or unregistered vehicles, so please ensure your vehicle is legally compliant and parked correctly to avoid receiving a parking ticket (infringement notice).
If you're planning a longer visit, you can view our map showing where you can park for 120 minutes or more in the city centre. Download the parking zone map here(PDF, 5MB) .
Mobility parking in Upper Hutt
Mobility parking spaces are located throughout our city for the people who need them the most, to help overcome barriers to accessing our key services. We ask that you respect mobility spaces in our city.
Mobility parking spaces are marked by a disability symbol.
How to apply for mobility parking permit
You can apply for a Mobility Parking Permit through CCS Disability Action.
Phone 0800 227 200 or visit their website.
How long can mobility parking permit holder park?
Mobility parking permit holders can park on any marked mobility parking spaces within Upper Hutt City for twice the marked time restriction up to a maximum of 120 minutes.
That means that the time limits are extended as follows:
| Time restriction signage |
Maximum time allowed for mobility parking |
| P15 |
Maximum of 30 minutes |
| P30 |
Maximum of 60 minutes |
| P120 |
Maximum of 120 minutes |
Please note that this policy does not apply to any mobility car parks contained within any private car park as these are outside the control of Council.
For more information, refer to our Parking Policy here.
Mobility parking infringement
If you do not display a mobility parking permit when parking in any of our mobility parking spaces, an infringement ticket will be issued.
The parking infringement fee in this case is NZ$750.
EV charging in Upper Hutt
Where do I park and charge my EV vehicle in Upper Hutt?
Upper Hutt City Council operates EV charging spaces at:
- Queen Street Carpark: 24 Queen Street, Upper Hutt
- H2O Xtream Aquatic Centre: 26 Brown St, Upper Hutt (to come)
Our EV charging stations operate under Zero Charging Network by Meridian Energy and were installed with co-funding from the Government's Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
There are also privately operated EV charging spaces between Silverstream and Akatarawa. Check plugshare.com for their locations.
How do I use the EV chargers in Council-operated carparks?
Once you have located our EV charging stations:
- Park in the EV charging space
- Plug in your EV vehicle
- Start your session via the app or QR code
- Monitor your charging session via the app and end session when you are done
Unplug and move your car as soon as you’re done, as you might incur an infringement fees for parking your EV vehicle in an EV parking space when you are not charging your vehicle.
Learn more about Zero EV app here.
Can I park in an EV charging space?
You should only park in EV charging spaces if you're charging an EV vehicle. Once you have finished charging your EV vehicle, move your vehicle to a regular parking space.
If you park in an EV charging space with a regular car, you might receive a parking fine.
Bike parking and lockers
Metlink provides free bike parking at train stations. They are on a first-come-first-serve basis and are for day use only.
Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) technology in Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt City Council is trialling a license plate recognition tool, to help us develop a smarter, fairer parking strategy for our city. Over the next 6 months, we'll collect data to inform our strategy and improve how we enforce parking rules. This includes understanding occupancy rates and time-restricted zone use. Our goals are to:
- Prioritise public space for public good
- Use parking space efficiently
- Support those with the greatest need
- Ensure fair cost recovery
- Promote positive engagement with the parking system
The Aero Ranger camera system is mounted on a Council enforcement vehicle. As the vehicle drives through Upper Hutt, the camera records licence plates, visible signage and occupancy information. The system checks whether vehicles have overstayed time limits and paid for parking where required.
This technology is already used successfully in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Lower Hutt, and is fully compliant with the Privacy Act.
Frequently asked questions
About the technology
Why is Council using licence plate recognition (LPR)?
LPR helps Council to:
- Report on the how parking spaces are occupied and for how long
- Gather reliable data for long-term planning and parking management
How does LPR work?
A camera on a Council vehicle captures images of parked cars and visible signs.
Does LPR monitor driving behaviour?
No, LPR only captures stationary vehicles. It does not track speed, movement or any driving activity.
What areas of Upper Hutt will be monitored?
LPR will be used in areas with time-restricted or regulated parking, and in areas of Upper Hutt where parking-demand data is needed.
Privacy, data and security
How is my privacy protected?
Council complies with the Privacy Act.
We collect:
- Photos of parked vehicles and licence plates
- Parking location information
- Registration details from NZTA
This data is used to:
- Analyse occupancy and demand
- Support planning and policy development
- Only authorised Council Officers and our secure enforcement software provider can access this information.
Read our Privacy Statement for Parking in Upper Hutt
How long is photo evidence kept?
Evidence is stored securely for at least one year, as required by law.
Is the technology secure?
Yes. Images are stored in secure systems, accessed only by authorised staff.
Cameras do not record videos.
Will my face or passengers be visible in the images?
Faces and non-essential details are automatically blurred before any evidence is released.