A Wellington City Councillor is defending a planned 50 percent hike in residents' parking fees because it will discourage people from keeping cars in the inner city.
Parking is often scarce on Wellington's narrow streets, as the population continues to grow. Photo: 123rf.com
The council is consulting on raising residents' annual parking fees from $126 to $195.
The parking is only available on the edges of the central city.
Councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman has responsibility for transport and said the residents' parking scheme was already over-subscribed, and the fee increase should act as a disincentive.
"Cars are proliferating on the streets and we've got to do something about it and those residents who come home and haven't got a show of getting a car park anywhere near their house to carry their shopping home, they welcome these parking charges.
"It's not unreasonable to charge 53 cents a day for the privilege.
Mr Calvi-Freeman said people affected by the change should consider whether they needed a car.