Tauranga city centre: Where to get two weeks of free parking

The Elizabeth St parking building entrance. Photo / Tauranga City Council

The Tauranga City Council will offer two weeks of free off‑street parking in the city centre from December 20 to January 4.

The aim is to ease festive‑season congestion as demand drops sharply across its parking buildings.

The initiative comes during a period when many office workers finish for the year, and parking demand changes across the city centre, the council said in a statement.

While on-street spaces become busier, off-street carparks and parking buildings traditionally see significantly lower use.

Parking data from the last week of 2024 shows off-street parking demand dropped by over 60% when compared with other weeks in summer.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale said the free-parking window was a chance to balance demand and help people make the most of the festive season.

“This is historically a quieter period for our off-street parking facilities, so it’s an ideal time for people to make the most of free parking and enjoy what’s on offer in the city centre,” Drysdale said.

“Whether you’re popping in for last-minute Christmas shopping, visiting the waterfront and playground, catching up with friends for lunch, or hosting out-of-town whānau, this will make it even easier to spend time in the heart of our city.”

Free parking will be available at all council-operated off-street facilities, including the Elizabeth St and Spring St parking buildings, Dive Cres, Cliff Rd, TV3–Wharf St, 160–176 Devonport Rd, and Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre on Cameron Rd.

Throughout the two weeks, parking machines at these locations would display a free parking message and would not accept payment, the council said.

Throughout the year, council-operated city-centre parking is free after 5pm on weekdays, all weekend, and on public holidays.

A 20-minute grace period continues to apply to all city-centre parking.

To use the grace period, simply park in a paid parking space for less than 20 minutes and there’s no need to make a payment via a parking machine or the app.

For more, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/parking