I used to live in Upper Hutt a few times a few years ago.

When we visit the town/city we like to make a point of popping into the mall to support them and see how or if they have improved as aware it had been struggling for years with empty shops etc.

You are probably already aware of the big issue with the mall robbing people to park there now, which is a surprise and I raise the point to is illegal as there is no clear notice shown before entering the parking area, that there is a fee. It has always been very dark and dingy, so no notice is seen clearly that you have to pay to stay there, especially when going in there you have to focus carefully on what cars and people are likely to get in your way and look for a park you can get into.

I received a notice about a fine to pay as I had not paid. There was no barriers etc that are normally in proper fee paying parking  areas, so seemed another normal car park and typically free as are all mall car parks, time limited yes, but not charged.

I submitted an appeal, but will probably be ignored, so may have to pay the ridiculous fee.

My appeal noted the attached info and not sure what if any stories you may have done about this stupid system they have, that I believe is illegal.

Unfortunately, we now live in Masterton, so don’t see any papers for upper hutt, mind you we don’t even see any local Wairarapa papers now anyway, including our local free one that is meant to come to our letterbox, but doesn’t.

But I noted to them this as an appeal;

I have parked in this mall for many years from when we lived in Upper Hutt and many years since, we only visit it every now and then, but try to support it when in the town. I have never heard of any shopping mall robing their customers for parking, as all are free to encourage people to visit and spend money in their shops.

This has been the same for all malls around the country, so had no reason to expect otherwise.

This mall is always very dark and dingy and there was no clear readily seen information telling us if we come into this mall parking space, we had to pay anything at all. therefore, I believe on the grounds there was no reasonably clear notice to warn any visitor they would be made to pay for parking, which is very unreasonable when going to a mall. if this is the attitude of the mall management, then we and many will not bother to visit your mall at all, which has been gradually going downhill anyway over many years, so it is very surprising that the mall would even consider such a silly approach. They should be encouraging visitors to come and spend money in their mall. But no other malls rob their customers to park in their parks, otherwise people don’t bother to go there, as will be the case now for this silly mall.

If this is insisted on despite no sufficient legal notification about parking fees etc before entering, then it will be raised and complained to the Upper Hutt politicians, mall managers and the media, where we and others will boycott going to this mall ever again. it has nothing to offer anyway, but now it is even worse as you get ripped off just to park there. 

A “thank you” to Bob Tidd for sending this letter to The Upper Hutt Connection.

30/12/25