Masterton's council is considering "alternative approaches" to addressing the problem of businesses using public car parks for vehicle storage. Photo: LDR / Emily Ireland
On a typical Friday afternoon, the street outside Masterton's Bowling Club is packed with cars.
On first glance, it would signify a healthy turnout for the club's "Friday funzy" where dozens of players test their skills on the bowling green.
But many of the cars taking up the spaces were for sale and were stored there long-term, making it difficult for many club members to find parking, particularly the elderly and disabled.
A recent report to Masterton District Council said the bowling club had delivered a letter requesting the council's intervention to resolve parking issues near the premises on McKenna Street.
The report said a used car retailer, operating on Dixon Street, occupied a "significant number" of parking spaces on both Dixon Street and McKenna Street.
Of the 23 cars parked on McKenna Street and the intersecting Bunny Street on Friday, nine sported a licence plate frame with branding of the dealership, some of which were not displaying current registration.
In Masterton, it was not an offence to park outside a property for an extended time unless it was a restricted parking space.
However, it was an offence to park on the road without displaying a current warrant of fitness and licence label or registration.
From 1 November, Masterton District Council would tackle this offence, the report said.
"Throughout the months of November and December, stationary vehicles without a current warrant of fitness or registration that are not already known to council, will have a flyer placed on the vehicle warning them of the offences and a warning will be recorded in the infringement system.
"Vehicle owners who have previously been engaged with will be infringed in December."
From January 2025, infringement notices would be issued for offences by the First Security Wardens and the Animal and Bylaws Team.
If the vehicle owner provided to council evidence of registration and warranting within a 28-day period after the infringement notice was issued, the infringement notice would be wiped.
"We are also aware that some private car businesses are using public parking to store vehicles," the council report said.
"Those business owners will be visited to inform them that they may be infringed for any unwarranted and unregistered vehicles found parked around Masterton.
"They will be left with a letter that outlines the outcomes if unregistered and unwarranted vehicles are found parked in public areas.
"Infringing for these will commence about two weeks after receipt of the letter."
In the council report, staff said they were considering "alternative approaches" to addressing the problem of businesses using public car parks for the storage of vehicles as part of the Wairarapa Consolidated Bylaw.
It was not a problem unique to one dealership, and not a problem unique to Masterton.
Christchurch City Council had a bylaw that addressed the issue, prohibiting businesses from storing vehicles on a public road.
"For example if a panel-beater or a mechanic is in the practice of parking their customers' vehicles in the street adjacent to their premises or a car dealer who parks vehicles for sale on the street," the bylaw's explanatory note said.
Gisborne District Council had a similar bylaw.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.