Abandoned Vehicles
A vehicle such as a car, trailer, truck, etc may be considered abandoned if:
- It is parked on a public roadway, and
- It has been there for an unusual length of time, and
- The owner cannot be located, and/or
- It is of derelict appearance.
A vehicle remains the responsibility of its last registered owner. The Council will charge the last owner of an abandoned motor vehicle, where they are identified, with the costs of removal and disposal of their abandoned vehicle.
Reporting an abandoned vehicle
You can contact council to report an abandoned vehicle if:
- The vehicle is parked on a council maintained road,
- Parked on council road reserve with an expired registration,
- Parked on council road reserve with an expired warrant of fitness,
- Parked unsafely for a period of time.
New Zealand Police are responsible for the following:
- unregistered and unwarranted vehicles
- Vehicles that have been involved in a crash, remain with the NZ Police, they will arrange removal once all evidence has been gathered.
State Highways:
- For vehicles on State Highways please contact Waka Kotahi
When reporting an abandoned vehicle, please have as much of the following information available as you can:
- Where is the vehicle located?
- What is the vehicle’s make, model, colour and registration number?
- How long has the vehicle been there?
- Do you know the name of the vehicle’s owner?
To report an abandoned vehicle,
- email our Roading Department
- phone 03 314 8816
- or use the app and Snap Send Solve it
Removal of Abandoned Vehicles
When the Council receives a complaint of an abandoned vehicle, it will be checked and photographed.
Provided the vehicle is on a road maintained by council, council may proceed as follows.
If an owner identification can be made, council will endeavor to contact the registered owner, first seeking to understand how, and why the vehicle has been left. They owner is further advised they have seven days to remove the vehicle unless it is:
- In a dangerous position - which would result in council arranging immediate towing at the owners expense,
- Likely to be damaged by vandals - which would result in a fire risk to adjacent property,
- Obstructing a public way - which would result in council arranging immediate towing at the owners expense.
In these circumstances, or if the vehicle is not removed by the owner in the allotted time, the vehicle will be removed and stored at the owner’s cost. If identification is not able to be made or no response from the owner within that time frame, as the vehicle is deemed to have no monetary value to council it will be disposed of.
Reclaiming Abandoned Vehicles
A vehicle which has been removed as abandoned will be held for no longer than 28 days, all arrangements for its return is between the towing company and the registered owner. If not claimed within that time it will be disposed of.
