AUCKLAND PARKING WARDEN TICKETS MOBILITY SCOOTER OUTSIDE HAWTHORNDALE DAIRY, IS 1,400KM FROM JURISDICTION
The scooter was parked. The warden was lost. The ticket is still on the handlebars.
An Auckland Transport parking warden, apparently on holiday and unable to switch off, has issued a $60 infringement notice to a mobility scooter outside the Hawthorndale Superette on Sunday. He is 1,400 kilometres from his beat.
The scooter belongs to Noeline Frew, 78, who had left it running while she went in for milk and a Lotto ticket. She came out four minutes later to find a yellow envelope tucked under the basket. A man in a hi-vis vest was photographing her rear reflector.
"He told me I was over the yellow line," Frew said. "There is no yellow line. There's a puddle. I asked him what council he was with and he said Auckland, quite proudly, like I was meant to be impressed."
A second witness, Grant Ryburn, said the warden had also tried to ticket a Holden ute with no wheels. "Reckoned it was obstructing the footpath. It's been on blocks since 2019. It IS the footpath now."
Auckland Transport confirmed the warden was on annual leave and "not authorised to issue infringements in Southland". A spokesperson said they were "looking into it", which in AT terms means nothing will happen.
Frew has stuck the ticket to her fridge. The scooter was back outside the dairy on Monday. Same spot. No warden in sight.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Southland doesn't need Auckland's handouts or tickets, cheers. Stick to your own gridlocked streets, mate.
Jo_Southland
This is a perfect example of Aucklanders thinking they run the country. It’s rubbish, and it won’t fly down here.
couchgremlin
Lol ticket a scooter how rooted is that?
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, parking wardens were firm but fair and knew their boundaries. This new breed are just taking the piss.
ropeable_dave
Mate, what are you talking about? This warden sounds like a lone ranger ticking boxes. Too much time on his hands.
pedant_sarah
People have forgotten the basics of parking. Read the signs, whether it's Southland or Auckland, same rules. Don't show your ignorance.
Nelson86
Sarah, there's literally no signs. It's a kerb and a puddle, not Queen Street.
HoldenFan88
Grant Ryburn's got the right idea. Utes on blocks are stable. Dare I say, an architectural feature now.
Local_Justice
Typical Aucklander, can't resist the urge to control every little thing. They think Invercargill is just another suburb.