Parking fee hike defended

Wellington: A Wellington city councillor is defending a planned 50% hike in residents’ parking fees because it will discourage people from keeping cars in the inner city.

The council is consulting on raising residents’ annual parking fees from $126 to $195. The parking is available only on the edges of the central city.

Cr Chris CalviFreeman has responsibility for transport and said the residents’ parking scheme was already oversubscribed and the fee increase should act as a disincentive. — RNZ