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About critical services permits
Who can apply
Cost and payment options
How to apply

About critical services permits

These permits are for organisations that need to access parking while carrying out critical or emergency work. They offer exemptions for:

  • on-street parking charges
  • some parking time restrictions.

Who can apply

Organisations that need to access parking while carrying out critical or emergency work can apply.

The permit has 4 sub-categories, with different eligibility criteria.

We can issue permits for unmarked police, ambulance and fire vehicles.

The vehicle should be registered to or be part of the emergency services fleet.

Healthcare organisations that:

  • are registered with a District Health Board
  • provide a critical or emergency service.

Vehicles must be part of the healthcare organisation’s fleet. Otherwise, proof should be shown that that the vehicle is used for critical or emergency work.

Registered non-profit, community support organisations can apply.

The organisation would need to show why they need a permit to carry out their community service work.

Vehicles must be part of the community organisation’s fleet. Otherwise, proof should be shown that the vehicle is used for critical or emergency work.

Infrastructure repair companies that respond to emergency situations can apply. This could include vehicles repairing Auckland’s energy, water or phone networks. They would need to show:

  • there is no alternative to parking in a time restricted or paid parking area to carry out their work
  • that the vehicle contains specialist equipment or tools that the contractor must return frequently to the vehicle to use.

Vehicles requesting permits must:

  • be registered to the company
  • have the company name or logo clearly displayed on the vehicle.

AT may cap the number of permits issued to each company.

Cost and payment options

A critical services permit costs $105 per quarter.

You can pay using either:

  • AT Park
  • Account2Account

Account2Account is available for customers of:

  • ANZ
  • ASB
  • BNZ
  • Kiwibank
  • TSB
  • Westpac.

How to apply (3 steps)

Create a MyAT account

You will need to log in to MyAT or create a MyAT account.

If you have a registered AT HOP card or use AT Park, then you will have a MyAT account.

Register for AT Park

Set up AT Park within your MyAT account. Find out about the other benefits of AT Park.

Complete the application form

Once you have registered for AT Park, you can complete the application online.

  1. Open parking permits application—you may need to log in using your MyAT details.
  2. Select 'Apply for and manage permits' to open the online portal.
  3. Select, 'Permits'
  4. Select 'Critical Service Permit'.

Policy for issuing permits

Auckland Transport's parking strategy contains a policy for issuing critical services permits. It helps ensure we only allocate permits to organisations that require them.

The key principles from the parking strategy are that critical services parking permits will:

  • assist critical services to carry out their various functions
  • have a set price and be prepaid to offer convenience
  • be electronic and linked to a vehicle's registration.

The permits will not be:

  • an exemption from cost of parking
  • used by staff to park close to their place of work.

Terms and conditions

A critical services parking permit is:

  • only valid for use during a critical or emergency situation
  • issued against the registration number of a vehicle.

Each permit covers one vehicle. Additional vehicles, for example trailers, require a separate permit.

The permit does not apply:

  • to loading zones—vehicles parked in loading zones must comply with time restrictions
  • to P2, P5, P10 or P15 time restrictions
  • to prohibited parking areas such as broken yellow lines, clearways, bus stops, taxi stands or mobility parking bays
  • where a temporary traffic management plan is in place.

The permit cannot be used:

  • to reserve or guarantee the availability of any parking space—all parking operates on a 'first in, first served' basis
  • in a vehicle that is parked for the primary use of advertising or promotion
  • for the direct or indirect purpose of revenue generation.

Any abuse of the terms and conditions may result in future applications being refused.

AT reserves the right to revoke the permit at any time.

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