Christchurch design for city’s new parking meters

29 March 2006

The contract to replace the city’s parking meters has been awarded to New Zealand based company Cash Handling Systems Ltd (CHS) using a meter designed in Christchurch.

David Gould, CHS’s General Manager says not only have the meters been designed in Christchurch they will be manufactured in Christchurch too. The meters are the latest technology offering customers flexibility in how they pay for their parking.

"In addition to coins, the meters will be programmed to accept payment through cell phone texting and credit cards. Customers can be reassured that no credit card information is stored on the machines," says Mr Gould.

Customers will receive a GST receipt for display on dashboards which can act as proof of purchase or expenditure for businesses.

Don Munro, the Council’s Transport and City Streets Unit Manager says CHS has had extensive experience installing meters in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Nelson as well as Australia.

Originally scheduled over the next six years, the parking meter renewal has been brought forward due to the change in coinage being introduced at the end of July. The new system will be compatible with the new 10, 20 and 50 cent coins together with the existing $1 and $2 coins.

Installation of the meters is scheduled for completion prior to the introduction of the new coinage.

The contract has been awarded within the allocated budget of $3.6m.

"Each of the new meters will cover several parking spaces. It’s estimated that about 400 new meters will be required to replace the existing 1700 meters which will reduce the clutter on the street," says Mr Munro.

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