By the Explore Rotorua news desk · Published Thursday 12 November 2026
Temporary pink and orange signs are going up from Monday 9 November at the boundaries between Zone 1 and Zone 2 in Rotorua's inner city, after a council survey found some drivers were still unsure where each zone begins.
- Where
- Boundaries between Zone 1 and Zone 2 in the inner city
- Zone 1
- First 60 minutes free, but only if you enter your number plate at a meter or in the PayStay app
- Zone 2
- The wider inner city; enter your number plate at a meter or in the PayStay app
- Next
- A full review of the parking system starts in the new year
The zone map looks much like it did before July, but on each side street the edge of Zone 1 now sits in a different spot, the council explains in its announcement. Each big sign carries arrows towards the two zones, and drivers and people on foot should both be able to spot them.
What the two zones mean
Zone 1 covers Tūtānekai Street and the nearby stretches of the side streets. Parking there is free for the first 60 minutes, but you still have to enter your number plate at a parking meter or in the PayStay app, even for a short stop.
Zone 2 is the wider inner city, and the same plate rule applies there. People parking all day are pointed to the permit areas around the edge of the city centre and the parking building, and there are free parks on the outer fringes.
Why the signs are going up now
The parking system changed on 1 July. In its first three months it recorded more than 248,000 transactions, free and paid, and the council says feedback shows the new machines are easy to use.
The signs are a stopgap to help people learn the zones before and during the busy summer months. Permanent signs are being looked at, along with public education, a review of mobility parking and possible time-limited spaces in key spots.
What happens next
A full review of the system, planned from the start for the six-month mark, begins in the new year. It will draw on the recent survey and on talks with the Business Chamber, accessibility advocates and inner-city businesses.
If you are heading into town, look for the coloured signs, or check the zone map on the council’s parking changes page.
- Rotorua Lakes Council: Painting the town pink and orange, released 9 November 2026
- Rotorua Lakes Council: Countdown On: Parking Changes Start this Week, released 24 June 2026
Explore Rotorua news desk: news@explorerotorua.nz. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we’ll correct it.
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