Parking Signs:

Timed parking restrictions

These are put in place after a consultation process between elected representatives, (Councillors), business people and local citizens who may be affected by the recommended controls.

A parking restriction that is indicated by a sign incorporating the letter ‘P’ on the top of the sign, or on a sign that relates to a loading zone, applies between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm on days other than public holidays, unless otherwise specified on the sign or on a supplementary sign. The number under the 'P' shows how many minutes that a vehicle may be parked.

You must obey all parking signs if you do not wish to incur an infringement notice.

Every block of the CBD has a small bank of P15 parking spaces available.  This is to ensure that there will always be an area available for those that wish to make a quick visit to a business premises.

Stopping restrictions

Some of the city's roads have 'No Stopping’ restrictions.  A ‘No Stopping’ sign is a circle with a red border.  The background is blue, and a red diagonal cross is placed over the blue background.  This sign means that there is no stopping allowed at all times.

Broken yellow lines

Broken yellow lines closer than 1 metre to the kerb or edge of the road mean you cannot stop, wait, or park there at any time. They are placed where parking may compromise the safety of pedestrians or other road users.

Broken yellow lines are enforceable 24hrs a day, 365 days of the year.

You may see broken yellow lines at:

• the approach side of pedestrian crossings 
• near intersections
• bus stops
• taxi stands
• narrow or winding roads
• any other place necessary for the safety of pedestrians or other road users

Vehicle entrances or exits

No person shall stop or park a vehicle on a road at any time if it is blocking a vehicle entrance, or if it is within one metre of either side of the entrance.  (This applies even if a person is sitting in the vehicle).

Bus stops

Only a bus may stop at a bus stop.

Bus Stop offences are enforceable 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

A bus stop is for the setting down and picking up of passengers only.  Even buses cannot park on a bus stop.  If the driver of a bus leaves the bus unattended it is considered to be parked and an infringement notice may be issued.

Bus Stands/Parks

A bus stand or park has a blue sign with a ‘P’ and a symbol of a bus in white upon it.  This is an area where a bus can park up and the driver can leave the bus unattended.  It is not permitted to park any vehicle other than a bus in such a park.

Taxi stands

If you are not driving a taxi you are never allowed to stop on a taxi stand. Taxis can only be on taxi stands when available for hire and being used in accordance with the Transport Services Licensing Act 1989, Schedule 3, Part 1, Small Passenger Service Rules. The driver must be present in the vehicle when it is on a taxi stand.

Taxi stand offences are enforceable 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

Vehicle loading zones

A vehicle may stop on a loading zone provided:

• The loading zone is the correct one for your vehicle
• You are loading or unloading
• You don't leave the vehicle for more than 5 minutes

If a vehicle is on a loading zone and there is no sign of loading or unloading – or if the vehicle is unattended for any length of time over 5 minutes an infringement notice may be issued.

Double parking

You must not stop, or park a vehicle next to another parked vehicle ('double-park') on a roadway.

Note: There is never a need to double-park and, therefore, never any excuse for double parking. Accordingly, tickets for double parking are seldom cancelled.

Park as close as practicable

Under normal circumstances you must park parallel to the road and as close to the left kerb as is possible

Angle Parking 

Rotorua has angle parking in the Central Business District and the road is marked with lines, which clearly indicate this fact.  Unless a vehicle is being loaded, or unloaded, it should be parked so that the front of the vehicle is facing into the kerb.

Parking on flush median

A flush median means an area marked by white diagonal lines, which are painted along the middle of the roadway and are usually bounded by parallel, longitudinal white lines. It has the same effect as a traffic island, which is to separate vehicles; to provide a safe place for vehicles that are turning off the road, and to provide a safe place for pedestrians.

You can only drive on the flush median as part of a turning manoeuvre.  It should never be used as an area for overtaking other vehicles, and parking on a flush median is extremely dangerous. Infringement notices for such an offence will not usually be waived.

Fire Hydrants

A driver or person in charge of a vehicle must not stop, stand, or park the vehicle within 500mm of a fire hydrant or of the fire hydrant is situated below the surface of the road, within 500mm of the centre of the cover of the hydrant.

Safety Matters:

Red Light at the Rear

Heavy goods vehicles and any vehicles with a flat deck must have a red light shining to the rear at all times during the hours of darkness when it is parked.

Compliance Matters:

Evidence of inspection:

Land Transport Act 1998, Section 6 and 34

A vehicle may not be operated on a road without displaying a current certificate of vehicle inspection appropriate to the type of vehicle.

It is the responsibility of the owner, or user, to ensure certificates are renewed before they expire. Genuine excuses may be accepted but that is not guaranteed. Waiting for a reminder from a Testing Station or garage, to renew the certificate is not an acceptable excuse

There seems to be some misconceptions regarding the use of a vehicle after it has failed a warrant of fitness test.  Many people believe that they may use the vehicle for up to 28 days after failing a fitness inspection.  This is incorrect.  The vehicle may only be driven from the testing station or garage to a place of repair, and then back to the testing station or garage.  If a vehicle is driven on a public road without a certificate of vehicle inspection for any reason other than the above, an infringement notice will be issued.

Registration and Licence labels:

Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Act 1986, Part 1, 5

The licence label must be current and displayed in the correct way. It is your responsibility to ensure the licence label is renewed before it expires. Genuine excuses may be accepted but that is not guaranteed. Waiting for a reminder from the Land Transport Safety Authority is not an acceptable excuse.

It is not enough to be licensed. The licence must be displayed as per LTSA requirements.

Note: Licences expire on the day shown - not necessarily at the end of the month. Check your reminder for the day of expiry. The actual day of expiry is also clearly printed on the front of the licence label.