Residents, including a woman racing to a wedding, had their vehicles towed and slapped with fines after an outdated parking map for Auckland’s largest running event left them blindsided.

On Sunday, major road restrictions were in place as more than 31,000 people took to Tāmaki Drive for Round the Bays.

One long-time resident criticised communication from Auckland Transport (AT) after his vehicle, and those belonging to an elderly couple and a pregnant woman, were towed from a “safe” street.

Many residents moved their vehicles to streets they thought were safe to park on based on an online map and leaflet they were given before the event.

Signs were erected in streets to show drivers where they could not park. However, the event organiser has since apologised and said two streets were missing from the communication.

Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said AT has apologised for the communication mishap and cancelled infringement tickets for one of the affected streets.

Simpson said the notification letter sent to residents used outdated information from last year.

AT head of transport and parking compliance Rick Bidgood earlier said Sage Rd was “clearly communicated” as designated for bus parking only, according to the traffic management plan.

“This was clearly communicated to residents with the installation of event advisory signage on Sage Rd one week in advance of the event, while event regulatory signage was installed on Sage Rd 24-48 hours in advance,” Bidgood said.

Since being contacted by the Herald, Bidgood said AT was made aware of the mistake in the notification letter.

“The notification letter used incorrect information from the traffic management plan (TMP) in 2025, and not the TMP for 2026, which potentially confused the residents of Sage Rd, with different messages in the letter and the signage implemented for bus parking only,” Bidgood said.

He claims the signage on Sage Rd was still correct.

The official Round the Bays website provided information to residents regarding road closures and parking restrictions around the event. Photo / Round the Bays

A Round the Bays spokesperson said two streets were added to the traffic management plan this year because of a revised route for buses after the event.

Tāmaki Drive resident Rob Correa said he was one of many who were wrongly issued a $70 fine and a $120 tow fee after parking on Sage Rd.

“$190 is a price too high to pay for public incompetency,” he said.

Correa told the Herald he was frustrated because he did not see any signs and the online maps showed the road was safe to park on.

“You should not penalise people doing the right thing in complying with the situation. You create a dangerous precedent for next year because now we don’t know what’s safe to do,” Correa said.

“I’ve been here for 25 years .... it’s always very much traditional in the sense that we know exactly what’s going to happen.”

Round the Bays runners and walkers making their way along Tāmaki Drive, Auckland, last Sunday. Photo / Dean Purcell

He said it was common to see cars being towed on the morning of the event because people forgot about restrictions, but this year was different.

“I love Round the Bays, I’m all for AT and the council, but for me and my wife to walk up the hill and then be charged $190 for doing the right thing, it’s not okay.

“It appears the wardens were issued a blanket directive to ticket and tow every vehicle in sight, regardless of the actual location or the non-highlighted zones their own maps had signalled as safe,” Correa said.

The traffic management plan for last weekend's Round The Bays. Photo / Supplied by AT

Residents left ‘scrambling’

Correa said residents were caught out by what felt like a sudden change in conditions.

He said his wife was “horrified” to see elderly people trying to figure out where their vehicle had gone and a heavily pregnant woman “scrambling” to recover her car.

Correa said one woman was running late for a wedding and was unaware she’d been in a tow zone until it was too late.

“Whatever the technicalities, this is what poor communication looks like in real life: confusion, stress and avoidable hardship,” Correa said.

Tāmaki Drive resident Rob Correa is unhappy with Auckland Transport after his vehicle was towed from a street not included in a parking restrictions list. Photo / Supplied

Correa said if AT and council were going to use the neighbourhood as a “pressure valve” for Tāmaki Drive demand, then residents deserved clear, consistent, highly visible notice and transparent justification for enforcement.

Bidgood said the event was held annually and AT used the same regulatory standards and processes to advise residents where and when they cannot park well in advance.

“We will be using these same standards and process ahead of next year’s event,” Bidgood said.