Editorial: Charity boost a fine project

Stuart Goodman puts a leaflet offering $2500 of surplus revenue to one of three local charities on to a car on The Strand. Photo / Andrew Warner

No one likes getting a parking ticket.

It's bad enough paying a few dollars to park let alone being stung with a ticket costing you $30 or more.

I've long thought being a parking warden must be one of the worst jobs - no one would ever be happy to see you.

But thanks to a creative scheme thought up by Tauranga City Council, you can look on the bright side if you get a ticket.

The council is donating $2500 to one of three local charities using the surplus gained from parking fines.

Those receiving a ticket were asked to vote for either the Tauranga Community Foodbank, Good Neighbour or the Mount, Omanu and Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Clubs.

It's such a great idea. Forking out the money to pay for a parking ticket would definitely not seem as bad if you knew some of it was going to such a worthwhile cause.

Just think of it as a donation.

The council's team leader of bylaws and parking Stuart Goodman said the scheme had been well received.

I'm not surprised. It's a great time of year to do it - for everyone's sake.

Coming up to Christmas and the busy summer season makes it the time of year those charities most need a boost.

It's also a stressful time for many rushing to get everything done before the holiday - handing a frazzled mum a parking ticket at this time of year would not be a pleasant experience. Being able to explain that some of the money will go to a good cause has got to be a bonus for the parking wardens who are just doing their jobs.

It's also an expensive time of year and another bill will only add to that. But it is the time of year for giving so looking at it as a donation takes some of the sting out.

The council often cops a lot of flak from the decisions made by elected members but this is one scheme that cannot be faulted.

They council's job is to look after the city and the people living in it, and it is definitely doing that.