The Waitemata DHB says it will take action after coming under fire for the cost of hospital parking.
The current cost can be as high as $140 per week - an enormous strain on low- and fixed-income people.
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It's now adding a discretionary $50 discount parking ticket for multiple entries over seven days, which will be available from November 1.
Appearing on The AM Show on Wednesday, Grey Power Auckland regional director Bill Rayner criticised the cost of parking, saying it has a huge effect on the elderly and beneficiaries.
"The problem we have is Waitemata [parking] rates at the moment are probably the highest in New Zealand," he said.
"They're on the same level as Auckland Transport charge for the CBD."
But the DHB defended itself at a public meeting on Wednesday, saying it already has a "fair reasonable and compassionate approach to car parking fees" under its guidelines.
"More than 63,000 parking fees worth up to a total of $1.29 million were waived last year," said Waitemata DHB board chairperson Judy McGregor.
"Also 124,000 cars left after paying the minimum tariff of $4. Grace period and minimum tariff exits combined accounted for around 65 percent of all hospital exits."
However Mr Rayner say he "doesn't believe carparks are difficult to run" and doesn't accept there should be a fee at all.
"One of the issues that we have with the Waitemata health board is [them saying] we don't want to waste precious funding resources that we could use in other clinical areas on parking," he says.
"But parking is an integral part of the hospital."
Newshub.
