Auckland Council has officially adopted a 10-year budget plan.
It includes $14 billion for transport infrastructure, including nearly $600 million for the City Rail Link.
But Auckland Transport's (AT) plan to increase paid street parking in the city from next week has not gone down well.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown was in high spirits after the council finally adopted a 10-year budget plan - and it includes $14 billion for transport infrastructure.
"We've got that tension between us and Auckland Transport about what's the right thing to do around that investment," said Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson.
But that's not the only tension with AT. Its plan to extend paid street parking in the CBD to seven days a week has been met with backlash.
"AT gives every appearance of waging war on the city centre. One of the means of war is the blockade," councillor Mike Lee said.
Even though it's a public holiday today for Matariki, street parking in the inner city costs $3.50 per hour. And from next month, AT is expanding it to cover the entire central-city parking zone. So, even on weekends and public holidays, there will be no free parking in Auckland CBD.
"I don't agree with that," one person told Newshub.
"I don't think that's fair. It should be free when it's a public holiday," another said.
Auckland Transport said "it's currently first-come-first-served to get one of these spaces and then potentially stay there for some time, which is not fair on those who need to find a space quickly and close to their destination".
Public transport advocate Jodi Johnston understands their argument.
"The reality is, Auckland Transport is stuck between a rock and a hard place," Johnston told Newshub.
"They're going to have to remove some parking in order to make improvements but without making the improvements it won't be easier to get into the city centre."
But he does have concerns about another AT proposal - to make paid street parking in the CBD 24 hours a day.
"There is not a public transport alternative most days of the week," Johnston said.
So the decision was deferred to October, and now AT is consulting on that change.
"I didn't like it initially, I didn't like the shock of it, and I think that view was shared by a number of councillors," Simpson said.
"But Auckland Transport have responded to that concern, and are doing that engagement right now."
So, if you're planning on driving into Auckland city, best be prepared to pay to park - no matter the time or day.
