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Disputing your parking fine with the Court

If you believe you have grounds to appeal your parking ticket and we decline it, you can then choose to have the matter heard or reviewed by the Courts. 

Parking fines are strict liability offences, so it’s a good idea to seek legal advice from a lawyer, community law practitioner, or Citizens Advice Bureau. Information about going to court is on the Ministry of Justice website.

Ministry of Justice

You will have two options to take your dispute before the court:

Option 1: Admit liability and provide written submissions for a judge to consider without either party being present. 

Option 2: Plead not guilty and ask for a court hearing, at which both parties must attend. 

Making a written submission

Option 1 is if you wish to admit liability and provide written submissions for the court to consider your circumstances when setting the infringement fee. It will be reviewed by a community magistrate or Judge, not in open court. Your attendance is not required.

You’ll need to provide:

  • A signed Court Hearing Request form indicating a guilty plea. 
  • Your written submissions, outlining the circumstances relating to the offence. 

You can email this to parkingadmin@tauranga.govt.nz or post it to Tauranga City Council, Private Bag 12022, Tauranga 3143. 

It will be lodged with the courts by Council, along with Council’s submissions on the matter.

Denying liability

Option 2 is if you believe you are not guilty, you will be required to appear in court to have the matter heard in a judge-alone trial. 

A first appearance is required to officially enter into a plea with the courts. There, a time and date will be set for the judge-only trial. If you do not attend this first appearance, the Courts may hear the matter by way of formal proof. The outcome will be decided without your verbal evidence.

At the judge-alone trial, you will be able to cross-examine the parking officer and other Council witnesses regarding the infringement. The council's legal team will also cross-examine you. If you do not attend, the court will hear the witnesses' evidence and decide on an outcome. 

You’ll need to provide:

  • A signed Court Hearing Request form indicating a guilty plea. 

Both of these Court options may incur extra costs if the decision goes against you.  

Court Hearing Request form

Download the Court Hearing form below, complete it and send it back to us by emailing parkingadmin@tauranga.govt.nz or post it to Tauranga City Council, Private Bag 12022, Tauranga 3143. 

Court Hearing Request form (26kb doc)

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