Hastings city car parkers can now pay up using their smartphones

Hastings District Council staff Mark Bainbridge and Dixie Karamaena, taking down signage for free parking on council parking metres in Hastings CBD on Saturday. Photo / Warren Buckland

A new and improved way to pay for parking has been introduced to Hastings.

On Saturday free parking signs were removed across the city centre after Hastings District Council said the public overwhelmingly asked to revert to user pays.

Drivers now have the options of using a coin in the meter or using an app on their smartphone to pay in the city centre, after hearing feedback to provide other ways to pay.

The ParkMate NZ app is a free to download app for smartphone users that enables people to only pay for the time they use, along with a 30c fee per transaction.

It is already in use in Napier and at the Hawke's Bay Memorial Hospital and can also be used at car parks across the country.

Planning and Regulatory Services manager John O'Shaughnessy said "Investigations into other technologies, including debit or credit card payment and monitoring through in-ground electronic sensor 'eyes' would continue".

Public consultation on whether to pay for central city parking at the meter or through rates drew 3000 responses with almost 70 per cent preferring user pays at the meter.

The free app is easy to install from the app store. Once loaded, it lists the car parks in the immediate area, including on street and off street, and shows the cost of different parking areas. The driver then clicks on the required park and taps the screen to start the on-line meter. At the end of parking, the driver needs to click it off.

ParkMate FAQ's
- Is ParkMate available for on-street metered parking as well as off street car parks?
Yes, every car park in the city centre is available via the location map/list.

- What app do I download?
'ParkMate NZ'.

- I don't have an iPhone - is the app available for Android?
Yes it is available via Google Play, Windows Store and the Apple App Store.

- How much does parking cost and is there a user charge when you use the app?
The charge is detailed when you select your location, and is also marked on the meter. You only pay for the time you use. ParkMate charges 30 cents per transaction (on top of the cost of parking).

- If I move my car, do I need to pay the 30 cent transaction fee again?
Yes.

- How does the app know my location?
Locations automatically come up in the app - you just need to choose the correct one.