Taxing the Ill

Briefing paper on public hospital

parking charges

DHB PARKING CHARGES: $44 MILLION IN THREE YEARS

When you or a family member is sick and in need
of hospital treatment, the last thing on your mind
should be whether or not you have enough
change for the hospital car park. Yet that it is
becoming more common for District Health
Boards to charge for car parks and it seems the
parking taxes are proving to be a nice wee earner
for DHBs across the country.
Our research reveals that the parking costs for
hospital patients, their friends, families and those
caring for them is around $15 million annually.
The Governments DHBs have collected $44.4
million in only three years.
Hospital parking charges exploit a captive market
and disproportionately hit those with the most
serious medical conditions, clashing with the core
values of the public health system.
Of the twenty New Zealand DHBs, seven have one or more hospitals which charge patients and
hospital visitors for parking.
While the majority of DHBs charging for parking exist in the main city centres and surrounds, it
is surprising that car-parking charges are spreading to regional centres such as Northland.
Northland is a region home to a large number of people from a low socio-economic status,
where health outcome issues abound and where median incomes are comparatively low. Being
a region whose population is geographically dispersed over a large area means that many
people will have to commute significant distances in order to obtain hospital treatment.
The statistics exclude Christchurch DHB, which does not currently have car parks for patients.
Those attending the DHBs facilities have to pay the City Council for parking.

Prepared by the New Zealand Taxpayers Union (September 2015)


DHB
Auckland
Capital & Coast
Hutt Valley
Mid-Central
Northland
Waikato
Waitemata

Total
DHB

Auckland

Capital &
Coast
Hutt Valley

Mid-Central

Northland

Waikato

Waitemata

Revenue 2012/13
$3,500,000
$2,371,344
$981,727

Revenue 2013/14
$4,000,000
$2,384,552
$1,013,801

Revenue 2014/15
$3,800,000
$2,073,572
$826,773

$1,215,154

$1,246,450

$1,251,450

$0
$2,426,333
$3,976,457

$0
$2,545,473
$4,710,997

$17,494
$2,202,026
$3,913,471

$14,471,015

$15,901,273

$14,084,786

Current hourly parking charge

Auckland City Hospital: 0-15mins = Free; 15-30 = $3;
30mins-1hr = $4; 1-2hrs = $7; 2-3hrs = $9; 3-4hrs = $10;
4-5hrs = $11; 5-6hrs = $13; 6-7hrs = $15; 7-8hrs = $18.
Greenlane Clinical Centre: 0-15mins = $2; 15-30mins -
$2; 0mins - 1hr = $3.50; 1-2hrs = $6; 2-3hrs = $7.50; 3-
4hrs = $9; 4-5hrs = $10; 5-6hrs = $11; 6-7hrs = $12.50; 7-
8hrs = $15
WEEKDAY: 0-20 mins = free; 20 mins - 1 hour = $4.00; 1-
2 hours = $6.00; 2-3 hours = $7.00; 3-4 hours = $8.00; 4-
5 hours = $9.00; 5-6 hours = $10.00; 6+ hours = $10.00.
WEEKEND: 0-20 mins = free; 20mins - 1 hour = $3.00; 1-
2 hours = $4.00; 2-3 hours = $5.00; 3+ hours = $6.00

Concessions

Cheaper rates on weekends

0-20 mins = free; 20 mins - 1 hr = $3; 1-2 hrs = $4; 2-3

hrs = $5; 3-4 hrs = $6; 4-5 hrs = $7; 5 + hrs = $10.
N/A
0-30 mins = free; 30 mins - 1 hr = $2; 1-1.5 hrs = $3; 1.5-
2 hrs = $4; 2-2.5 hrs = $5; 2.5-3 hrs = $6; 3-4 hrs = $7; 4-
5 hrs = $7; 5-6 hrs = $7; 6-7 hrs = $8; 7-8 hrs = $8; 8+ hrs
= $8; lost ticket = $10; staff = $10 per week deducted
from sallary/ wages; staff casual daily rate $3 per day;
Staff casual weekly reat = $12.50 per week; Staff part
time weekly rate $7.50 per week.
None. Pay structure applies 24/7
0-60mins = Free; 1-1.5hrs = $2.00; 1.5-2hrs = $3.00; 2-
2.5hrs = $4.00; 2.5-3hrs = $5.00; 3-4hrs = $6.00; 4-6hrs =
$7.00; 6hrs+ = $8.00; Lost ticket = $10.00
Not specified
Seven-day parking pass = $7.00; wards
conditionally grant concession ticket eg for
patients having day procedures = $1.50 per exit;
Full time staff and contractors = $11.00 per
week; Part time staff (less than 30hrs per week) =
$6.50 per week; Staff with reserved parking =
$24.00 per week; Multi cash cards = $3 per max
0-29mins = Free; 30mins-1hr = $1.50; 1-2hrs = $3.00; 2-
9hrs; Student nurses (with ID) = $7.00 per week;
3hrs = $4.50; 3-4hrs = $6.00; 4hrs+ (maximum charge) = Volunteers, Red Cross, Emergency Services etc =
$7.50
Free
0-30mins = Free; 30mins-1hr = $4.00; 1-2hrs = $6.00; 2-
3hrs = $8.00; 3-4hrs = $9.00; 4-5hrs = $10.00; 5-6hrs =
$12.00; 6-7hrs = $15.00; 7-8hrs = $18.00; over 8hrs =
$18.00; lost ticket = $20.00; maximum daily charge =
$18.00; staff pay $2.50 per day
Not specified

Prepared by the New Zealand Taxpayers Union (September 2015)