Laws, Edward and Brown to help NZ parking officers

Media Release – June 27, 2006

Media experts Laws, Edward and Brown to help NZ parking officers at national conference

Media experts Michael Laws, Brian Edwards and Michael Brown will help the parking industry at the 23rd annual New Zealand Parking Association annual conference at Invercargill later this year.

Park association chairman Colin Waite said the media trio were key speakers who would help parking officers and managers understand more about communication both with their internal customers and for the on street enforcement officers, how also to avoid confrontation with irate motorists.

``Our officers are doing a valuable job and we want them well equipped to deal with any difficult parking issues,’’ Waite said.

Parking has become a major issue in New Zealand's cities and the October 3-6 national parking conference in Invercargill will attract huge interest.

The conference will showcase the best practices and the latest technologies in on and off road parking controls and parking enforcement.

Waite said delegates attending will be representing over 45 local authorities, 2 airport companies as well as a growing number of car park operators. They all carry out various aspects of parking controls and parking enforcement in New Zealand.

He estimated more than a million parking fines were issued in New Zealand every year.

Car-parking rates as one of the great curses of the 21st century. Waite said the problem was not confined to big cities and it regularly reared its head in smaller towns, with local councils debating over inconsiderate drivers parking illegally for hours in restricted areas.

Many larger city councils are actively pursuing initiatives to reduce car use, and thus traffic and parking congestion.

Parking wardens as always do their best to be fair to the general public.

``Our main aim is to allow the general motoring public to have access to a finite parking resource. Road safety is one of our imperatives and through active enforcement we encourage people to ensure their vehicles are licensed and warranted and that they park their vehicles in accordance with the law. If people operated within the law then there would be no need to issue infringement notices. ’’ Waite said.

Meanwhile, the annual awards for parking excellence will be presented during the conference. The awards recognise contributions to the industry be they a supplier or a parking warden. or any other person who has contributed to the success of the parking industry as a whole

Barry Cornford of Wanganui won the annual New Zealand award for parking excellence last year.

ENDS

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