A paid parking trial at three key tourist sites has raised close to $1 million for the Department of Conservation (Doc) in less than three months.
Doc is now seeking public feedback as the trial nears the midway point.
Paid parking was introduced in December at three of the busiest sites — Punakaiki, Franz Josef Glacier Valley and White Horse Hill at Aoraki/Mt Cook.
It allows visitors 20 minutes of free parking before they have to start paying.
The parking meters have not come without controversy, particularly in Punakaiki, where local residents and business owners have expressed concerns about visitors rushing through the village before their 20 minutes of free parking expires.
Heritage and visitors director Catherine Wilson said the survey sought customer feedback on their parking experience, such as how long they stayed, what their experience of getting permits has been, what the payment experience was like, whether people had changed how they visited since the paid parking was introduced and what changes could improve the paid carparking service.
The survey is open until March 30. All responses will then be reviewed and a report published in April. — Greymouth Star
