Nelson Airport introduces long stay parking

2024-10-23

From 1 November, Nelson Airport’s Value Carpark will change to a Long Stay Carpark, with cheaper rates for those staying five days or longer. Currently the airport has Value and Main carpark options. Airport Communications Manager Beth Catley says the current pricing model doesn’t promote the most efficient use of the airport’s parking spaces, because drivers receive a discount for parking in the Value Carpark regardless of their length of stay.

Beth says the parking furthest from the terminal, in the current Value Carpark, is more appropriate for those needing longer-term carparking. As well as renaming the Value Carpark to Long Stay, the new pricing model encourages this by providing a significant day rate discount for those parking for five days or longer.

“It’s been identified for a while that the current model doesn’t encourage the best use of the airport’s carparks. Ideally, those staying for shorter periods should rotate regularly through the spaces closest to the terminal, keeping them free for those coming and going to welcome and farewell friends and whānau.”

From days one to four, parking in Long Stay will be the same as in the Main Carpark, removing the incentive to park there short term. From day five, the day rate in Long Stay reduces to $6 compared with $18 in Main. This means the Long Stay Carpark is 29% cheaper than the Main Carpark for stays of one week, and 48% cheaper for two weeks.

The airport will also apply a modest inflation-based increase to the standard hourly rates for airport parking of 20c an hour (to $4.50). The day rate increases by $1 (to $18).

“We’ve done our best to keep the increase as low as possible while acknowledging the airport has been affected by cost rises in materials, repairs and maintenance and has invested significantly in pedestrian and vehicle safety improvements over the past year. Ultimately we need to reflect those rises in parking charges to recoup some of the costs and ensure we can continue to invest in safety, security and service improvements for airport users.”

The first 15 minutes of parking in any airport carpark remains free, Beth says.