FAQs - Pay by Plate
What is the difference between Pay by Plate and the PayMyPark app?
Pay by Plate requires you to enter your vehicle licence number at a meter when you pay. Your parking time and payment are recorded against your vehicle licence number. You do not receive a printed ticket to display on your dashboard.
PayMyPark is a phone app that allows you to top up and pay for parking online. PayMyPark is available nationwide and widely used by many Councils throughout New Zealand. PayMyPark is developed by an external supplier.
Can I get a receipt from the machine?
No – Pay By Plate is a paperless parking system. For information on how to obtain a receipt
go to the obtaining a receipt page
Can I top-up my amount paid for parking?
Yes, you can top up at any parking meter in the same zone, but you cannot top up beyond the time limit for that zone. For more information go to Pay By Plate – Parking Zones
If I move to another space and I have some parking credit left can I park again for no charge?
Yes – However can only park in another space in the same zone. Any parking credit is only available until 5.00 pm on the same day.
For example, you can move between any Zone 2 - 4hr car park (Queen Street, High Street and Wynen Street) with your parking credit, however you cannot move to a Zone 1 - kerbside car park as it has a 2hr limit. To move to a different Zone, you are required to start a new parking session.
Go to Pay By Plate – Parking Zones
Why can’t I move freely around all carparks and keep using my credit?
Your parking start time begins when you first activate the meter in a specific zone and pay for parking. Each zone has its own tariff and time limit. The parking system cannot tell when you move between zones.
For example: I enter the Zone 2 - High Street (4hr limit) car park at 9.00 am and pay for three hours. At 11.00 am after two hours, I move to a Zone 1 - kerbside park where I should be able to park for one additional hour. The parking system tells the Parking Officer I have paid to occupy Zone 2 until 12.00 pm. However, I am now showing as having parked for two hours in a Zone 1 - kerbside car park. I am issued with a parking ticket for exceeding the Zone 1 – 2hr time limit.
Can I check how much time I have left?
Yes - You can go to any parking meter in the same zone as your vehicle and enter your vehicle licence number. The parking meter will display how much parking time you have left.
You can also check the PayMyPark app under ‘Current Parking’ to view how much parking time remains.
How do I know what the parking tariff is?
The tariff is displayed on the screen of each parking meter and will differ depending on where you are parked.
All off-street car parks have signage displaying the parking tariff at both the vehicle entry and next to the parking meters.
What is a parking zone?
A zone is a defined parking area which has a specific tariff and time limit.
The zones in Blenheim and Picton are:
Zone 1 | Kerbside $2.00 per hour - Limit of 2 hours |
Zone 2 | Off-street $2.00 per hour - Limit of 4 hours |
Zone 3A | Off-street $1.50 per hour / $6 per day - no time limit |
Zone 3B | Off-street $1.00 per hour / $4 per day - no time limit |
Zone 4 | Off-street $1.20 per hour / $6 per day High Street - 24hr limitDublin Street - 7day limitCoathanger Bridge - 4week limitLagoon Road (Bluebridge) – 4week limitAuckland Street (Interislander) – 4week limit |
Zone 5 | Off-street $1.20 per hour / $6 per day |
What is coupon parking?
Long-term coupon parking is available in Picton only and can be purchased on the PayMyPark app. Long-term coupons allow you to pay for more than one day's parking. Coupons are permitted in the Dublin Street, Coathanger Bridge and the Ferry Terminal car parks.
