Background

As part of the 2026/27 Annual Plan fees and charges process, Hamilton City Council consulted the community from 2 April to 3 May 2026 on a range of proposals.

This included reintroducing two hours of free short-stay parking in the central city, increasing the entry price for the Hamilton Gardens Enclosed Gardens for non-Hamilton residents aged 16 and over, and changes to planning-related fees and charges.

What we heard from the community

A total of 1094 submissions were received. The feedback will inform a Council decision on Thursday 28 May.

Read the full Insights Report on public feedback.

View the individual submissions.

Key feedback themes from respondents:

• Central city parking:
  Feedback showed strong support for reintroducing two hours of free short-stay on-street parking. Of the 1053 people who provided feedback on the proposed parking changes, 88% supported the proposal, with many noting the potential to support central city activity and revitalisation.

• Hamilton Gardens entry fee:
  Feedback on the proposed increase to the Enclosed Gardens entry price for non-Hamilton residents was more mixed. Overall, 33% of respondents supported the increase, with a further 22% supporting it in part. Hamilton residents were generally more supportive, with 38% in favour, while 78% of Waipaa District residents did not support the increase.

Next steps:

Council will consider the community feedback and make a decision on the proposed changes to central city parking and the Hamilton Gardens Enclosed Gardens entry fee at the Council meeting on Thursday 28 May.

Council is reviewing its fees and charges to ensure fairness and accuracy. These charges support Council’s finances, and your feedback will help guide the review.

Introduction

• Councils review their fees and charges regularly to make sure they are fair and accurate.
• Fees and charges are an important contributor to Council’s finances. Under the Local Government Act 2002, Council’s fees and charges must reflect the reasonable costs of providing the service.
• As one of the few revenue tools available to councils, fees and charges are applied where a ‘user pays’ approach is appropriate.
• Council is specifically seeking feedback on:
  • the re-introduction of two hours of free on-street short-stay parking in the central city to support revitalisation of the central city
  • increasing the entry price for non-Hamiltonians aged 16 and over to the Enclosed Gardens at Hamilton Gardens to $27.50
  • Planning Guidance and Urban and Spatial Planning fees and charges.

• In total, we’re forecasting to receive $68.8 million in revenue from fees and charges in 2026/27, which makes up 18% of total revenue.

What is Council proposing?

Council is specifically seeking feedback on:

The Mayor’s Plan 2025-2028

In December 2025, Hamilton City Council adopted The Mayor’s Plan 2025-2028. The Plan includes seven themes that provide a clear lens through which Council will approach every decision and action. These are:  

Under the theme of ‘a central city to be proud of’, The Mayor’s Plan makes a commitment to revitalising the central city and, in particular, how we manage parking. Council is consulting with the community on its proposal to reintroduce two hours free on-street short-stay parking in the central city (to inform its final decision). Council's decision following this consultation would be in place from 1 July 2026, with a fuller review of the parking system in the central city to take place over the next year. To deliver ‘a central city to be proud of’ will have costs associated. If two hours of free on-street short-stay parking in the central city is reintroduced, Council would lose some revenue it currently receives. There is more detail on the next page.

The Mayor’s Plan also commits Council to financial responsibility and sustainability. Setting appropriate fees and charges so the user of a Council service is fairly contributing to the cost to provide the service is one way Council can meet this commitment. To this end, Council is proposing to increase the entry price for the Enclosed Gardens at Hamilton Gardens for non-Hamiltonians aged 16 and over. Details of the financial impacts are outlined on the next page.

Why are we proposing these changes?

Council fees and charges are reviewed each year as part of Council’s planning and budgeting process and are used where a user‑pays approach makes sense (like entry to the Enclosed Gardens or parking in central city), so the people who directly use a service help pay for it. This helps manage costs, reduces pressure on rates, and makes it clearer to the public what services cost to run.

Most fee updates are small and reflect rising costs or inflation. When larger or more sensitive changes are proposed, such as entry fees for popular community attractions or changes to parking, Council seeks feedback from the community before making a decision.