Student ticketed after surprising change to Welly parking

A student who paid for parking was frustrated to later find a $66 dollar ticket on her car for not having a Massey Dash Pass despite not knowing they needed one.  

Third-year Communications student, Camryn Noble said she’s spent easily over $1000 dollars on parking at Massey Wellington over her degree.  

Noble would prefer parking was free for students, like it is on the Massey Auckland campus.  

"We already spend thousands of dollars to study here and then we have to pay just to be here, it's unfair." 

Noble felt students need to be made more aware of their options.  

She wasn’t aware that a student parking permit can be purchased for $120 per semester. Palmerston North students pay $340.60 per year for a general car park.  

A note was left on Noble’s car along with the ticket which read, “From July 1st, 2024, all Massey Staff and Students will need to display a Valid Massey Dash Pash as well as paying for parking.”  

“If a vehicle does not have a dash pass clearly displayed, Care Park will issue a Payment Notice even if you have paid for parking.”  

While many students have had issues with Care Park in the past, Noble hoped to contest the ticket.  

Despite the change starting July 1st, a Massey University spokesperson said students were notified 10 days late on July 10th via a weekly newsletter.  

The spokesperson said the point of the dash pass is to identify non-staff and non-students who park on campus, as spaces need to be kept available for staff and students. 

“Our parking contractor also left notes on cars parked in the impacted spaces for a number of weeks before the system began.”  

They said the Wellington Estates Service Desk has been waiving tickets issued to all legitimate parkers. They advised students with a ticket to visit or email the Wellington Estates Service Desk at EstatesServiceDesk-Wellington@massey.ac.nz.