Public feedback leads to car parking changes

Invercargill Airport is to increase the length of free parking time motorists can have in the airport car park, so the first ten minutes will be free of charge from 1 July.

Airport General Manager Chloe Scala said that the increase in free parking time to ten minutes was part of a complete overhaul of the airport’s parking structure and brought it into line with other regional airports around the country.

Mrs Scala said that in addition to studying the parking structure of other New Zealand airports, Invercargill Airport had also conducted public surveys of airport users, both face to face and online.

“Parking was identified as an area of interest and we have worked hard to come up with a system that is fair and balanced for all airport users”

The new parking charges come into effect on 1 July and are as follows:

Up to 10 minutes: Free (go directly to the exits, do not go to the pay machines)
From 10 minutes up to 30 minutes: $3.00
Up to 45 minutes: $4.00
Up to 60 minutes: $5.00

After 1 hour, there is an additional 50 cents for every half hour, or part thereof, up to the following daily maximums:

1 day: $16.00
2 days: $23.00
3 days: $29.00
4 days: $34.00

Long term flat rate per day, or part thereof (from 5 days onwards): $5.00/day.


Ms Scala said that the airport also offered year parking passes for frequent travellers and special rates for Stewart Island residents who commuted regularly to and from the island.

The airport had recently upgraded its self service machines where people paid for their parking.  The new machines now accepted eftpos in addition to the cash and credit card options, although members of the public should be aware that credit card transactions incurred an extra 50 cents per transaction, to cover credit card fees, she said.

Mrs Scala also said that it was important that members of the public know that they must claim their luggage before paying for their ticket.  This is to ensure that they have enough time to exit the car park.