Thousands of Kiwis are supporting a petition calling for healthcare workers to get free parking while New Zealand is in COVID-19 lockdown.
A group of healthcare workers set up the Change.org petition on Sunday.
"Health care workers around New Zealand are still having to pay Wilson Parking fees to park their cars at work during this COVID pandemic," the petition says.
"Please support our frontline workers and health care workers around New Zealand working through this challenging time."
Thousands of people agree with them; the petition has already surpassed its original 1000 signature target to gain over 3500 supporters.
"It's disgraceful; these poor health professionals paying for parking - especially in level 4," one supporter wrote.
"Covid is all over the world and the health care workers are taking a big risk by being there to help so many people," another said. "Why should they pay for parking when they are helping us all and doing a fantastic job as well as a service to the community/public. It could be you they will be rushing to help. What price is a parking fee compared to saving a life?"
A spokesperson for Wilson Parking said they "acknowledge the incredible work all of our healthcare workers are doing on the frontline" but they had been "wrongly targeted" by the petition.
"Wilson Parking does not set or control the prices charged for car parking at any hospital parking facility in New Zealand," they said.
"Wilson Parking is contracted by the ADHB and their license holder to provide car park management services which ensures a safe, clean and convenient parking experience. These services include for example the provision of access control equipment and staffing.
"All decisions regarding hospital parking site operations are at the discretion of the ADHB and the site's license holder - this includes parking fees."
Wilson Parking said they currently provide free parking for essential health care workers at four car parks near the Auckland City Hospital where they do control the parking fees.
These include car parks on Grafton Road, Park Road, and two on Khyber Pass Road.
"Daily parking at these sites will be available for healthcare workers free of charge during alert level four."
A spokesperson for the Auckland DHB said it is important to them that staff can get to work in a safe and convenient way.
"We provide some car parking for our people at both Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre and have a range of off-site parking options available for staff close to both sites," they said.
"We provide free night shift parking at Auckland City Hospital and we're now able to access free car parking from local businesses and organisations close to the hospital, whilst those businesses are closed during alert level 4. We'll be communicating the free parking details to our people directly."
This comes as police have received numerous reports of break-ins and stolen cars over lockdown at both Auckland City Hospital and Middlemore Hospital.
"Police received several reports of vehicle crime over the weekend in relation to cars parked at Auckland Hospital," a police spokesperson said.
"Three vehicles were reported stolen from the hospital's car parks [ on Sunday], with one of those vehicles located elsewhere within the car park.
"Police also received multiple reports of vehicles being broken into at that same location on Saturday and Sunday."
The spokesperson said since Wednesday last week, police have received three reports of vehicles being stolen in the hospital's car parks and two further reports of vehicles being broken into and tampered with.
"One of these stolen vehicles was involved in a fleeing driver incident over the weekend in Waitemata and four youths were taken into custody.
"Another of the stolen vehicles was involved in a fleeing driver incident in Papakura on Thursday evening, which resulted in the apprehension of three youths.
"The third stolen vehicle was located in Onehunga and enquiries are ongoing."
The spokesperson said the incidents were "extremely disappointing".
