Free parking will continue in downtown Mount Maunganui, but council plans to take a tougher stance on people flouting time limits on spaces.

Local businesses say they are pleased the council backed down on its plans to introduce paid parking in the area.

Tauranga City Council proposed parking charges for the retail area of Maunganui Road and along the beachfronts of the popular seaside suburb.

Council had planned to hold consultation in November but delayed the move last year.

At a meeting on Monday, council deferred plans until March 2025.

Businesses were opposed to paid parking with one retailer saying it would “kill business”.

Mount Longboards owner Kate Evaroa said: “It’s encouraging to see Tauranga City Council taking on comments from Mount Mainstreet businesses.”

Mount Business Association chair Kate Barry-Piceno said the Mount town centre is unique. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Mount Business Association chair Kate Barry-Piceno says the association was pleased the commissioners directed staff to pause before applying a blanket paid policy approach to the Mount town centre.

“Council staff seem intent on characterising the Mount the same as its other town centres.

“Mount Business Association has consistently advised council that the Mount town centre is unique in its character and use.

“It is critical our community project the town centre as a relaxed coastal shopping village, renowned nationally and internationally by visitors as a favourite beach and entertainment destination.

“Paid parking is not considered conducive with that approach.”

The council said it would enforce the parking time limits, which currently weren’t being followed.

Maunganui Road has a 60-minute parking limit and nearby areas have two-hour limits.

Council monitoring over two days in February and March showed 336 instances of people parking longer than the time limits.

In comparison, 1016 parking tickets were issued in Mount Maunganui in the last year, according to council data.

Tauranga City Council plans to enforce parking time limits in Mount Maunganui. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Evaroa says enforcing the limits was good thing.

A three-day surf lifesaving event held last weekend saw people parking all day along Pilot Bay and the beach fronts, she says.

“They all came and they parked for the whole day and then nobody could get a park.

“If they're going to enforce time limits more, I think it's a good thing. It creates more turnover of parking.

“The rules are there, they're just not being upheld.”

Barry-Piceno says enforcement of time restricted parking in and around the town centre was the appropriate parking policy.

The council have also delayed extending paid parking in Tauranga CBD. It will also be considered in March 2025.

Paid on-street parking was set to be extended from Third Avenue up to Arundel Street, and from McLean Street up to Monmouth Street in February.

Commission Chair Anne Tolley said the council wanted to minimise disruption to city centre businesses. Photo: Alisha Evans/ SunLive.

Commission Chair Anne Tolley said in a statement there were significant developments happening in the city centre.

“The city centre transformation is progressing at pace and by this time next year there will be significantly more parking options available in the city centre.

“However, while various projects are underway, we want to minimise disruptions and allow time to monitor how the transformation will impact visitor, worker and business parking needs.”

Current projects included the $306m civic precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa, and private investments, like Northern Quarter and the Craigs Investment Partners development on Devonport Road.

There would also be 360 more carparks available in the CBD by the end of the year.

“With community feedback in mind, there are various factors that need to be considered before [parking] changes are implemented,” says Tolley.

“It’s important we continue monitoring parking demand over the next year and ensure we are taking a holistic and measured approach.”

Parking strategies for Mount Maunganui and the city centre will be reviewed in March 2025.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.