Appeal a parking ticket

If you have received a parking ticket and believe it is not correct, you can appeal it.  

You must submit your appeal within 56 days of the date the parking ticket was issued.

Please include any supporting evidence to help us review your appeal, such as:

  • photographs
  • witness statements
  • other relevant documents.

When an appeal may be considered

Your appeal may be favourably considered if:

  • you had an medical emergency that prevented you from removing your vehicle
  • your vehicle was broken down and you could not remove it
  • your vehicle was stolen
  • you were detained by the Police.

When an appeal Is unlikely to be considered

An appeal will generally not be considered if:

  • you lost track of time or an appointment took longer than expected 
  • you did not see the parking sign
  • you did not understand the parking sign
  • you have a parking permit but it was not displayed at the time
  • you went to get change for the parking dispenser (taking longer than five minutes)
  • your display ticket or permit was not displaying correctly i.e. not easily visible
  • you had to use the toilet
  • you were picking up or dropping off a passenger
  • other vehicles were parked illegally or inconsiderately.

Online

Step 1.Complete form

Fill in our online form and upload any supporting evidence.

Appeal a parking ticket

Step 2.Review

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting evidence such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

Step 3.Decision

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice.

Step 4.Notification

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to 15 working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee.

We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after 15 working days.

By email

Step 1.Complete the form

Download the form, print it and complete it by hand.

Parking explanation form(PDF, 28KB)

Step 2.Email us

Email your completed form and supporting evidence to us.

Email:  mailroom@wdc.govt.nz

Step 3.Review

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting evidence such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

Step 4.Decision

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice.

Step 5.Notification

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to 15 working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee.

We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after 15 working days.

By post

Step 1.Complete the form

Download the form, print it and complete it by hand.

Parking explanation form(PDF, 28KB)

Step 2.Post it to us

Post your completed form and supporting evidence to us.

Whangarei District Council
Private Bag 9023
Te Mai
Whangārei 0143

Step 3.Review

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting evidence such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

Step 4.Decision

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice. 

Step 5.Notification

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to 15 working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee.

We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after 15 working days.

In-person

Step 1.Complete form

Download the form, print it and complete it by hand.

Parking explanation form(PDF, 28KB)

Step 2.Bring into us

You can bring your completed form and supporting evidence into one of our Customer Service Centres.

Te Iwitahi (civic centre)
 9 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
Hours: Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Ruakākā service centre 
9 Takutai Place, Ruakākā
Hours: Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 4:00pm
Closed public holidays

Service centre at isite
92 Otaika Road, Raumanga
Hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 12:00pm and 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Step 3.Review

We will review your submission and we take several factors into consideration, including:

  • the law
  • the impact on other road users
  • the facts on the parking ticket
  • the circumstances outlined in your review request.

We also look at supporting evidence such as photographs, witness statements and delivery documents.

Step 4.Decision

After considering all available information, we make a decision to either cancel or proceed with the infringement notice. 

Step 5.Notification

A response letter or email will be sent to you.

The review process can take up to 15 working days. During this time, please do not pay the infringement fee.

We will advise whether the infringement has been withdrawn or if it must be paid.

Contact us if you have had no response from us after 15 working days.

Infringement notices can be lodged at Court for two reasons:

  • you have requested a court hearing or made a written submission to Court
  • the fee was unpaid after the final payment date on the reminder notice.

If the infringement notice was lodged at Court as it was unpaid, it has already had an extra $55.00 lodgement fee added.

A further $133.00 will be added if payment is not made within 28 days and the Court takes enforcement action.

If you believe the fine was paid before it lodged at Court, contact us as soon as possible. You will need to provide proof of payment.

You may be entitled to apply for the infringement notice to be removed from the Court and reissued by Council, which will let you make payment without extra costs or send us an explanation for us to consider.

Applications are only considered for limited reasons, which are outlined in the Summary Proceeding Act 1957, Section 78B.

Some of these reasons are:

  • the reminder notice was sent to the wrong address. (you will need to include proof that you have updated the Motor Vehicle Register)
  • NZ Post has confirmed a mail delivery problem
  • the ownership of the vehicle was changed before the infringement occurred (you will need to include proof that you have updated the Motor Vehicle Register)
  • a customer requested an infringement review but did not receive a response (must have made an attempt to follow up before the final payment date had passed).

You will need to contact the Ministry of Justice to request a Form 57.

Report it

Use our online forms to report parking and vehicle issues.

Report an issue

Enquiries

Use our online form to enquire about a parking ticket.  

Enquire online

Phone: 09 430 4200

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