Nelson City Council will trial extended free parking in four city centre car parks this winter, aiming to boost foot traffic and support local businesses during quieter months.
At Thursday’s council meeting, councillors approved a proposal from Nelson City councillor Mel Courtney, liaison councillor for retail and commerce, to increase free parking from one hour to two hours.
“Winter brings quieter streets and reduced foot traffic,” Mel says. “Local businesses have told us that every sale counts during this time. Extending free parking is a simple, practical way to encourage people into the city to shop and spend.”
The time-limited trial will allow the council to monitor parking use and gather feedback from businesses, helping to inform a wider parking strategy review due to be presented in 2027.
Council previously introduced free parking between 3pm and 5pm from July to October in 2023. This time, the increase from one to two hours can be used at any time of day, but only in four central city car parks – Wakatu, Millers Acre, Buxton and Montgomery. The change comes into effect on Friday, 15 May 2026.
“I’d like to thank council staff for the work done to get this trial going at short notice,” Mel says.
“Running it while Bridge St and Trafalgar St are affected by the Bridge to Better project is a clear signal of support for local businesses and their customers, and shows confidence in our city centre.”
To access the two free hours, drivers will need to use either the PayMyPark app or one of the parking meters surrounding the car parks.
Drivers are reminded that while the free parking limit has been extended, the rules for time-limited spaces remain unchanged. For example, a vehicle can still only park in the 60-minute spaces in Wakatu for one hour.
The two free hours can also be split across the day. By using the meter or the PayMyPark app, drivers can divide the time into 15-minute segments. For instance, a driver could park for 45 minutes in Montgomery Square, then later park for one hour and 15 minutes in Buxton car park.
