Shopkeepers in Rotorua have branded the city's parking wardens a group of "Nazis", who are driving shoppers away.
The Rotorua District Council, which employs the wardens, is hitting back, saying they are just doing their job.
However, they appear to be facing a groundswell of anger against them.
Several retailershad recently said that while they appreciated the good work the wardens did in stopping people from parking well over their allotted time, the manner in which they did their job had become increasingly officious and unfriendly.
Christine and Mike Norris, who own Back to Eden in Pukuatua St, say they are both fed up with the unsympathetic and pedantic approach employed by the wardens.
"It's a real Nazi attitude. They just have no leeway for people who end up a little bit over the limit. It discourages people to come and shop here," Mr Norris said.
"We know we are losing people to Bayfair and Taupo because they are sick of trying to stay one step ahead of the meter wardens here," Mrs Norris said.
"They have got a really nasty attitude."
Darryl Cogger, another Rotorua retailer, said he had numerous stories about uncompromising encounters with local parking wardens including having one of his customers almost get a ticket for reversing into a parking space on Hinemoa St, to load goods.
Rotorua District Council regulatory services manager Jim Nicklin, who directly oversees the activities of the wardens, said he was perturbed to hear of the rising sentiment and claims of over zealousness.
"I would say [the wardens] are being efficient," he said of their behaviour. "If you are not consistent in any kind of enforcement law, you lose credibility."
If people thought they had been unfairly dealt with by the wardens, he welcomed submissions explaining their circumstances and was happy to cancel tickets if there were any mitigating factors.
While some of the wardens were occasionally subjected to abuse over ticketing, they spent more time helping people with mechanical difficulties, giving directions or, in one instance about three months ago, "tackling a robber running out of one of the stores and wrestling with him until the police arrived".
