The common practice of standing in a car park to save it has come under fire - with the time-saving custom dividing New Zealanders.
A nationwide poll has revealed how the majority of Kiwis feel about bagsing car parks.
Before the results were revealed, an investigation by Karen O'Leary discovered the shocking fact that there are no official rules on the widespread ritual.
"Everyone is saying bags not to bagsing," O'Leary says after being rebuffed by the multiple authorities she pressed for an official call on the controversial custom.
Paddy Gower's Community Investigator started the story in Mount Maunganui, after disgruntled local Jayden Wotherspoon shared his feelings about popular beachside car parks being hoarded by pedestrians.
"It's a bit selfish," Wotherspoon says. "Car parks are for cars, not for people to stand in."
O'Leary reached out to the local council, asking if bagsing car parks by standing in them is allowed. The Tauranga Council replied saying it's a Police issue. So she asked the NZ Police if it was allowed, and they said it wasn't a Police issue, it's a local council issue.
This led O'Leary to go national, asking Waka Kotahi if they knew of any regulations on the practice - but they replied saying no they don't, and Karen should ask Tauranga Council or the NZ Police.
Blindsided by the lack of accountability, O'Leary then reached out to the Ministry Of Transport - who also refused to get involved.
With no official call on the cultural custom, and after a sidetrack to ask a group of religious leaders what the spiritual world thinks about the subject, it was left up to the people of New Zealand to say if bagsing car parks is okay or not.
On-the-street interviews revealed varying opinions.
"I don't think it's okay, because it's unsafe and you could hit a person with your car," a local says.
"Oh I love to do that," says another.
"It depends how far away the car is," argues a couple, landing on 10 seconds as an acceptable wait time.
The thorny issue was then put to a nationwide poll by Dynata, with surprisingly strong results leaning one way.
QUESTION:
Is it OK to bags a car park by standing in it until your friends arrive in the car?
RESULTS:
- 16 percent Yes
- 76 percent No
- 8 percent Not sure.
Jayden Wotherspoon was disappointed in Karen's findings that no official authority wanted to make a rule about bagsing, so the pair took the law into their own hands. 'No Bagsing' stickers were placed around Marine Parade on Mt Maunganui by the comedian and the car parking enthusiast.
If you have an issue that Karen could help with, email issues@paddygower.co.nz
