Some Christchurch Hospital workers are reportedly sleeping in their vehicles before their shifts in a desperate attempt to secure parking close to their workplace, according to Mayor Phil Mauger.
The issue was raised during a recent Christchurch City Council meeting, where councillors unanimously supported a proposal to explore making overnight parking available at the soon-to-open Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre. The facility, scheduled to open in October, is located just a few hundred metres from the hospital. The proposal also includes potentially offering free shuttle services between the recreation centre and the hospital.
Hospital staff have voiced growing frustration over the lack of affordable and safe parking options, with many priced out of nearby car park buildings and concerned about personal safety when walking longer distances to work.
Mayor Mauger said a recent visit to the hospital made it clear the parking issue remains unresolved. “Some hospital staff are arriving at 4am and sleeping in their cars just to get a spot near their workplace,” he told the council. He also shared the troubling account of a young female worker who began commuting by scooter because she felt it could outrun a potential attacker. “That’s not a situation anyone should be in,” he said.
Mauger acknowledged the hospital’s current parking facilities are insufficient to accommodate shift overlaps and urged swift action. “I want this in place as soon as Parakiore opens. Let’s not let it disappear into bureaucracy. These workers deserve better,” he said.
Concerns about staff safety have intensified following recent incidents. In May, a hospital worker was assaulted while heading to her shift, and a student midwife was attacked at night near the hospital’s birthing unit.
Councillor Yani Johanson expressed deep frustration that the issue remains unresolved, despite years of discussions and proposals. He recalled earlier suggestions, including a land swap to develop a purpose-built car park and the idea of integrating a multi-storey facility into the Metro Sports Centre development. “Unfortunately, those plans didn’t go ahead after the health board and central government withdrew support,” he said.
Johanson noted that a private parking structure near the hospital, opened in 2023, is largely unused by staff due to its high costs. “We’ve tried many times to address this, and it’s time we do more. Ensuring our healthcare workers feel safe is absolutely critical.”
Councillor Kelly Barber also backed the initiative but questioned why local government is left to manage what he believes should be a central government responsibility. “It’s baffling that the council is having to step in here. Why would you build a major hospital without ensuring there’s adequate parking for staff and visitors—especially when public transport doesn’t fully meet the need?”
The council’s proposal to investigate overnight parking options and potential transportation support will now move forward, with the aim of providing relief for hospital staff facing unsafe and unaffordable commuting conditions.
