Parking Concession Recommended for Elderly

A proposal to introduce free parking periods in New Plymouth’s CBD for SuperGold Card holders has received support from NPDC’s Policy Committee.


The recommendation will be considered by the full council at its 18 December meeting.

The scheme would provide free parking in metered spaces and NPDC pay and display areas in the CBD up to 11am from Monday to Saturday for SuperGold Card holders – a concession card for New Zealand residents who are 65 and over, or who qualify for New Zealand superannuation or a veteran’s pension.

Normal parking restrictions would apply at time-limited and disabled car parks, loading zones and bus stops, as would the two-hour maximum parking limit on Devon St. Parking concessions would not include leased parking spaces.

If approved by the council, the parking concession would start before Christmas and be trialled for 12 months to monitor the appropriate usage of the scheme and any impact on parking revenue, and to gather community feedback. An interim progress review would be available for consideration as part of the 2008/09 Annual Plan process.

The scheme has been promoted by New Plymouth Positive Ageing Trust and Mayor Peter Tennent.

“This concession is a way for the council to recognise the contribution that people over 65 have made and continue to make to our community,” says the Mayor.

“It will make it easier for our older citizens to get to the shops first thing in the morning, and also free up parking spaces during peak periods while giving an early morning boost to CBD businesses.”

Says Positive Ageing Trust Secretary/Administrator David Showler says local drivers would only need to put their SuperGold Card on the car dashboard to take part in the concession scheme.

“Leaving their card in the car would mean they couldn’t use it to gain discounts in participating stores, but I don’t think that’s going to be a great problem as the gold card programme has only started and there aren’t many stores signed onto it yet – something that I hope will change over the next 12 months.”
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The trust is getting behind the parking concession scheme because it will make shopping in the central city cheaper for older people, said Mr Showler.

The Mayor says the parking concession scheme fits well with the council’s Positive Ageing Strategy, which outlines NPDC’s commitment to improving the well-being of older people.