DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION PAID PARKING PILOT

Large-scale parking management in some of New Zealand’s most remote environments

New Zealand’s most popular natural destinations attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Managing parking at these locations is important to protect the surrounding environment, maintain visitor facilities, and ensure a positive experience for everyone who visits.

As part of a pilot programme, the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) introduced paid parking at three high-profile South Island locations:

White Horse Hill, Aoraki / Mount Cook
Franz Josef Glacier
Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

These sites receive large numbers of visitors, including many international travellers. Following a competitive public tender process, Stellar was selected to design and deliver a fully managed parking solution that could operate reliably in these remote locations while remaining easy for visitors to use.

The result is a bespoke, large-scale parking ecosystem designed specifically for some of the most challenging operating environments in New Zealand.

The challenge

Delivering a modern parking solution in remote, off-grid conservation environments

DOC required a solution capable of managing large numbers of visitors, while operating within the constraints of remote national park locations.

Each site presented unique challenges, including:

Remote conservation land with strict environmental considerations
Extreme and unpredictable weather conditions
No mains power connection
Limited or unreliable mobile coverage
Very high visitor numbers during peak tourism seasons

At the same time, the pilot programme required a solution that could operate with minimal permanent infrastructure while still delivering a seamless parking experience for visitors. DOC’s objectives were to:

Improve the financial sustainability of visitor infrastructure
Help fund maintenance and conservation work
Better manage the impact of increasing visitor numbers

DOC required a free-flow parking system, using licence plate recognition technology, without physical barriers that could slow down traffic entering or leaving the car parks.

They also wanted a fully managed solution, covering everything from system design and installation through to payments, customer support, and enforcement.

The solution

A fully integrated, off-grid parking ecosystem designed for scale

Working closely with DOC and trusted technology partners, Stellar designed and delivered a parking solution built specifically for remote conservation environments.

The system operates as a free-flow parking environment, using licence plate recognition cameras to monitor vehicles entering and using the car parks. This approach allows traffic to move freely through the sites while still enabling effective monitoring and compliance.

Off-grid pay station hubs

At two of the sites, Stellar built multi-purpose pay station hubs using modified 10-foot shipping containers. These units contain the key infrastructure needed to run the system without grid power.

Each hub includes:

Solar panels and battery storage
Custom connectivity systems designed for remote locations
Touch-screen pay-by-plate parking machines
ANPR/LPR camera equipment

Combining these components into a single modular unit created a practical solution for remote locations with limited infrastructure.

Simple payment options for visitors

Because many visitors are international travellers, the payment process was designed to be simple and easy to understand. Visitors can pay using:

Touch-screen pay-by-plate parking machines
QR code mobile payments

Clear signage with simple icons was installed across the sites to guide visitors through the parking process.

Flexible digital permit system

The solution also includes a digital permit system that allows DOC to manage different parking entitlements. This supports several user groups, including:

Discounted annual permits for eligible local residents
DOC staff parking
Contractor and concession holder access
Different parking rules across the sites

Permits are linked to vehicle licence plates, allowing access to be managed automatically.

Fully managed service

Stellar manages the full parking system on behalf of DOC. This includes:

System design and installation
Paid parking signage and visitor information
Payment systems
Customer support through a dedicated call centre
Compliance monitoring and enforcement
Ongoing system operation and maintenance

This provides DOC with a single partner responsible for the entire parking operation.

"Stellar demonstrated exactly the kind of capability we needed for this pilot. Operating across remote sites with no grid power and unpredictable conditions is no small feat, and they delivered a solution that works reliably for our visitors and our team. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them."

John Dore - Senior Project Manager, DOC

The Result

A reliable parking solution for remote visitor destinations

The DOC Paid Parking Pilot shows how modern parking systems can operate successfully in remote conservation environments, supporting DOC’s goal of improving the sustainability of visitor infrastructure.

The project demonstrates Stellar’s ability to deliver parking solutions that can:

Operate completely off-grid
Manage high visitor numbers
Function reliably in remote environments
Provide a simple experience for visitors from around the world