That was until 2014, when they were named joint winners of the Innovate Northland "New to Market" award.
Principal developer Julie said the web-based app was quicker to develop and change and cheaper to operate than a standalone app.
"It's now beyond pilot stage and ready to be rolled out in other cities and regions.
"It's not hugely profitable just yet but has great potential," she said.
Mac has a telco background and described the duo as "serial technical entrepreneurs".
"The app takes the worry out of city parking. Retailers seem to love it because it means people won't be running out of their stores anymore to feed the parking meters," he said.
Mac and Julie had been searching for a new project when they had the mPark lightbulb moment.
The answer was right under their noses as they were two of the many Whangarei citizens struggling with the coin-operated parking meters.
"We live in an Eftpos world now," Mac said.
They first began working with Whangarei District Council in 2010, which was already reviewing its parking polices.
Julie and Mac are hoping the technology will be taken up by other councils.
Hamilton City Council was exploring options with the self-funded, Whangarei start-up company. Hamilton has funding dedicated to the introduction of modern parking technology in its 10-year plan.
A spokesperson for Hamilton City Council said the council hadn't entered into any agreements with mPark just yet, but the council's plan was due to go out for public consultation soon, with funding dedicated to introducing modern parking technology included.
Technology
So, how does it work?
Customers log onto mPark.co.nz and register a vehicle, or multiple vehicles, to an account. Accounts are topped up with credit and when motorists park, they can log onto the site, choose a city zone (of 14 in the city) and the duration of parking. The zone numbers are located on existing parking meters.
Parking wardens can check the database through their own version of the app to see vehicles' number plates and payment status.
The app also emails customers when parking is about to expire and allows for top ups on the spot, without the need to run back to feed the meter. The app keeps a record of your parking history too.
Parking charges are identical to parking meter costs which go from $2.50 per hour in the CBD to 40c per hour on the fringes of the city centre and $2 per day at the Dent St car park. However, banks do charge a credit card fee for the transaction of topping up the app at a rate of $1.50 for a $25 top up.
Julie said the web app would remain simple. "It won't buy you coffee but it will pay for parking. The next upgrade will focus on GPS technology. I'd like the app to know what zone you are in," she said.
Parking app technology is being developed across New Zealand. Palmerston North-based company Frogparking developed an app which charged for parking based on the number of available spaces by communicating with solar-powered parking sensors.
Wilson parking, which operates in a number of New Zealand cities including Auckland, but not Whangarei, was also expected to launch the parking payment app ParkMate.
Phone2park is available in Wellington, as well as Snapper cards with Snapper also supporting the 2degrees Touch2Pay parking system. Auckland's Eyegate was developing a pre-pay, license plate recognition (LPR) system.
