Mum stunned by cost of parking fine in New Zealand compared to Australia: 'Worth it'
The motorist had parked illegally in a street in Auckland and returned to a fine on her car, which was significantly less than what it would have cost in Australia..
It's not your average day when a driver is pleasantly surprised by the parking fine they receive, but that's exactly what happened to one Aussie mum last week when she found a paper fine waving at her.
The woman left her car in street parking in Auckland and admitted she had made an error, saying the fine was justified. However, instead of being frustrated by the hefty fine she now faced, she instead was in disbelief at how little her mistake would set her back — compared to the cost of Australia.
"I just got a parking ticket for parking in the wrong spot, that's my bad, but it was NZ$40 (A$36). 40 bucks!" she said on social media while holding her baby.
She pointed out that her parking error would have likely cost her quadruple the amount if she had made it in Australia, joking she felt like she had "made money somehow" by only being fined the small amount.
"In Australia 100 per cent minimum $120 for any parking fine," she said, later adding, "I’m not even bothered, the convenience was worth it".
Difference in parking fines between Australia and New Zealand
After shining a light on the different parking fine amounts online, many Aussies joked in the comments $40 was a "bargain".
"$40 is like a metered parking for two seconds in Australia. Absolutely making money there," one Aussie said. While another said $40 was the price many drivers in Sydney pay for "actual parking", never mind any infringements accrued.
Paid parking is notoriously expensive in some Australian cities, especially in Sydney. Previously one shocked motorist was charged a huge $79 for a Secure Parking garage in Barangaroo, a business hub in Sydney's CBD, for an 89-minute stay. While NSW drivers can be fined a mammoth $302 for parking in their own driveway.
As for parking in a 'no stopping' or 'no standing' zone, or parked illegally on the street, fine amounts can vary across the country. In NSW the minimum amount drivers can be fined is $136, for similar offences New Zealand drivers cop a NZ$40 penalty. In Victoria, parking offences are between $99 to $198.
In Queensland, it can range but is usually upward of $100, while in Perth drivers can expect to pay $120. Smaller towns across Western Australia however issue smaller fines, under $100, but still more than our neighbours across the Pacific.
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