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So I’m on my way to University in the rain this morning, and I’m thinking, “Oh great, I’ll park right outside the AUT tower so I won’t get too wet”. Well, bugger me when I see four disabled/mobility parks cordoned off, emblazoned with massive Telecom NZ logos, in preparation for their big XT brand launch this evening.
That’s right - and check out the picture on the right if you don’t believe me, Telecom had effectively roped off four of the most valuable mobility parking spaces in the Auckland CBD, all in the name of a bloody brand launch. So I had to park miles away, and got really wet en route to class. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed.
So I approached one of the official-looking guys patrolling the Telecom area, and asked if they’d had Council approval to occupy these four parks. Yes, he said, and it cost them $28,000 for the whole rig.
Let me get this straight - Telecom can buy mobility parking spaces, at the expense of many individuals’ independence? I almost couldn’t believe it. I checked with the Council; sure enough, it was all permitted, and as far as they were concerned, there were plenty of other mobility parks I could use. Of course, they were all used up, leaving me one very wet, disgruntled student this afternoon!
UPDATE: I’ve been told by Telecom that the parks did not cost $28,000, and that figure is one ‘invented’ by one of the ground staff. However, I’m sure some money must have changed hands in exchange for the parks, I’m just not exactly sure how much. (yet ;))
What do you think about all this? Should mobility parking spaces be able to be ‘bought’? Should the Council be more pro-active in providing alternative parks? Let me know in the comments!
32 responses so far ↓
1 Rachel // May 14, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Red get CCS Disability Action Auckland on to this! NO WAY should the Auckland City Council be able to do this!
2 Shaun // May 14, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Disgusting. The council shouldn’t allow this or should have at least provided an alternative. Unbelievable arrogance from Telecom as well. Social Responsiblity, what is that says Telecom.
3 Cassi // May 15, 2009 at 11:55 am
Red this is disgusting!, our parks should not be able to be ‘brought’, we PAY to use them!, how dare the council do this, did you tell them the other mobility parks were all being used?
I would write to the editor of the paper!
4 Susan // May 15, 2009 at 12:48 pm
RED!!
I am appalled at Telecom for buying? AND cordoning off 4 disabled car parks?! I have to agree with the others on this page, if the council can do this, its WRONG, people who work in councils, seem to come from Mars.! I find. I deliberately DON’T park in a disabled car park, so as to leave it for someone who really does have a disability. Telecom should be aware of where they are launching their XT BRANCH, for heavens sake!
I am so sorry you had such a lousy day!
5 Dylan // May 15, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I concur with your views. It’s a pity this story never hit the mainstream media…is it too late?
6 Red // May 15, 2009 at 4:46 pm
For what it’s worth: Telecom has ‘bought’ these carparks for the duration of the launch campaign, i.e. 5 days, ending Sunday.
I’m a little flabbergasted.
7 Ben Lilley // May 15, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Hey Red, just chiming in to say this is absolutely disgusting, I can’t believe Telecom or the Council think this is ok.
Accepting and offering payouts when it involves removing human rights is just plain wrong.
Someone needs to be held accountable for this and I think Telecom should donate $28k to a charity that helps disabled people.
Raise hell Red, raise hell.
8 Anthea // May 15, 2009 at 5:39 pm
To repeat my sentiments, it’s horrible. As if we hadn’t heard enough about this XT launch anyhow!
And what are they doing in these spaces? Propping up some signs?
Parking in the CBD is treatcherous for everybody, why punish those who really need, and pay for, those spaces?
Why don’t they stick their signs somewhere… else?
$28,000?! There’s a price tag on consideration now. Disgusted.
9 Philip // May 15, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Call Auckland City Council, ph 379 2020, ask for the The Event and Film Operations team. Speak to Wendy. She is a reasonable woman and welcomed my feedback. I asked her to record my complaint and stressed the issue was quantity of carparks, not proximity of alternatives. I encourage all to register their concerns with the Council.
10 miss Holly // May 16, 2009 at 11:54 am
a disgraceful scenario is this!
Why did the city council not offer other car parks for purchase by Telecom? could it be because ‘the public’ would protest?
What it is the council employee for disability issues doing about this? is she being consulted by other people within the Council?
If consultation is not taking place I think your particular organisation should be strongly criticising the actions of Council.
All people who use the disability car parks need to urge their organisations to up the anti-on advocacy on our behalf.
11 Honor Kavanagh // May 17, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Hi, Red, I’m speechless. I work at AUT, and as it is I had to ask not to be put into any classes in ‘T’ Block, as the parking down there is so horrible at the best of times, so this just astounds me (mind you, at least I had a choice in the matter, whereas students for the most part don’t).
This is just like flipping Telecom too, arrogant tossers. I will definitely be complaining to the Council, and I will urge everybody else I can find to do the same.
12 Firebirds // May 18, 2009 at 1:01 am
I am disgusted this is the biggest insult to those of us with mobility issues that I have ever read. This should be sent to every person that has any influence at all like ministers of the crown that we can find.
13 Red // May 18, 2009 at 1:05 am
Go for it!
14 Mr BRMBRM // May 18, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Truly disgusting. Perhaps Campbell live or Close Up would be interested. Make sure it costs Telecom much more than $28000 for the four carparks. I bet if you’d parked in front of their damn logo you would have been towed away for sure.
15 Charles // May 20, 2009 at 8:19 am
Can I be a slightly dissenting view here. Ben, what do you mean by “when it involves human rights”? Since when is having an empty carpark available for you a human right?
Also, is there not a perfectly accessable underground carpark on the other side of the road? Sure it would cost money but thats what the rest of “the public” have to do.
Sure it is a bit on the nose that 4 carparks were taken up for the safety factor involved in what they were doing. I notice that your photo did not show the towers that you were being protected from just in case anything fell out of them, can you imagine the outrage if that occured? However, if it were 4 standard parks would you be so outraged? I know that I would just move on and find another park.
16 Red // May 20, 2009 at 8:49 am
@Charles: Dear sir. Consider yourself, momentarily, to be in a manual ‘push’ wheelchair. It is raining, and due to the fact you are unable to hold an umbrella and push a wheelchair at the same time, you are looking for a park as close as possible to your intended destination. How would you then feel to be told to “move on and find another park”? Is that a legitimate request given the circumstances? I think not.
Consider also the situation from the perspective of an elderly person, or one with chronic fatigue. It is hugely draining for them to have to walk even the shortest of distances, and so these carparks essentially provide a service way beyond your average park. They service a group of people who truly need them.
If you still believe your suggestion of “moving on and finding another park” is a reasonable request of the above individuals, then you need your head checked.
17 Guy // May 20, 2009 at 9:37 am
Although I do find the actions of both Telecom and the Counsel insensitive, what would you have done if the parks were taken up by other mobilbity users? and if the barriers were there for your safety then there’s not much to complain about, i’m sure you’d be more pissed if you came out of your class at the end of the day and there was a dirty big box (or other falling object) in your windscreen or god forbid you got hit by something.
18 Bronwyn // May 20, 2009 at 9:45 am
The Auckland City Council need a good swift kick up the proverbial.
On Saturday night we had our wheelchair car (with hoist) towed, upon instruction by an Auckland City Council parking warden, from a designated wheelchair parking on Cricket Avenue outside Eden Park, despite having the disability card exposed on the dash. You can imagine my horrow when I went to collect the car after the rugby and it was gone. It’s not like my friend in a wheelchair can just jump in any vehicle or a taxi and go and collect the car - he’s a tetraplegic and can’t drive.
We finally got home after a great deal of inconvenice and cost, some 3 hours after the rugby, with a $110 fine from ACC for having parked correctly!
19 pixie // May 20, 2009 at 10:13 am
I think it is past time that something was done to ensure that disability parks are used by those who need them & for whom they were intended. Make the councils & landowners aware that money is not everything - even during a recession! Form a panel & bombard councils & government, the Disability Commissioner & any one else you can think of, present submissions etc. Go Hard & get a law happening.
20 Insurance // May 20, 2009 at 11:12 am
That is absolutely disgusting! Isn’t this typical Telecom behavior…. Get John Campbell onto this one.
21 Christopher Dempsey // May 20, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Hi Bronwyn
I’m disturbed by your experiences at Eden Park. Please contact me so that I can follow this up with Council and Eden Park Trust Board.
Thanks,
Christopher.
22 Christopher Dempsey // May 20, 2009 at 12:49 pm
sorry - you can contact me on 021 29 74 078
23 Rick // May 20, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Oh poor diddums you got wet and tired just like the rest of us who are not given preferential treatment .
Poor Telecom, having had to likely pay thousands to become elitist whereas other kiwis can get the same treatment for what? A measely $45 for 5 years?
Disabled parkers uber alles!
24 Matt // May 20, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I am in really no camp. I can see it being annoying, but as Charles said, the Civic carpark is about 20m further away, with plenty of chair accessible parking.
Further, contrary to what was posted above, the parks were cordoned off to provide a safe place for the public to stand and watch the town hall projections. As this was the only spot with a suitable view, Telecom or ACC would not have been able to simply ‘find other parks’.
I can see its annoying, but I’m not sure it warrants such a stink being created.
25 Red // May 20, 2009 at 3:39 pm
@Rick: Mate, at least you can hold an umbrella. Some of us - myself included - aren’t so fortunate. Think things through a bit, eh?
@Matt: I honestly do see your point. But to be fair, I didn’t create the stink. I just chucked it on my blog.
26 Arlene // May 20, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Typical of Ak City Council. I would be interested to hear where they assumed other suitable disabled parking was when they gave this excuse. They obviously have little understanding of the day to day mission it is to move around in the city for not so abled individuals, who may not necessarily be in a chair but have great difficulty with mobility, and as for Telecom I would have thought they had enough promotion of their new network, god I’m sick of it.
27 Kiwi Polemicist // May 20, 2009 at 5:17 pm
The Council and Telecom clearly have an intellectual disability and are unable to understand how important these parking spaces are for disabled folk.
Perhaps I’m mistaken and they’re just plain arrogant.
28 Graham // May 21, 2009 at 9:48 am
Charles.
You are obviously one of those ATM Crippled who thinks it’s okay to park in a mobility space.
If the spaces were full then they were being used for the correct purpose so moving on is fine but I think you will find that the Council have breached basic Human Rights.
Sadly NZ is the worst respecter of disabled peoples rights…
29 Mr BRMBRM // May 22, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Glad to see this mentioned in the sideswipe column of the Herald the other day.
30 Liam // Jun 1, 2009 at 11:09 am
Hey
Are you actually disabled? if not you should not be using these parks anyway and say you use one a day in the working week u have used 5 parks for one day meaning you personally have done more damage then telecom as a company. Sure they occupied 4 spaces for a period of time that is witheld by your report but can’t you just live with it?
Like chopper reid said
Harden the f#$k up
31 Cassi // Jun 3, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Liam, Red is indeed Disabled, he has a power chair and I believe a manual to Red?
I use a walker and an electric chair and cannot hold an umbrella, I to hate the ATM cripples or the ones who say “I’m only here 5 minutes” as while they are away in those 5 minutes, someone like me or Red might come, find the parks full and not be able to go to the shopping ect.
32 insanity // Feb 24, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Why did the city council not offer other car parks for purchase by Telecom? could it be because ‘the public’ would protest?
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