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Kiosks at the Northern Gateway Toll Road were damaged overnight in which appears to have been an attempted theft.
One of the two machines was completely destroyed, while the second has been repaired. Police are investigating.
The NZTA is still assessing the kiosk damage and is not yet able to say when a second machine will be operating at Puhoi.
The NZTA says that with only one machine operating, there is a risk of delays if that kiosk develops a fault.
This means there is a restricted service operating for drivers choosing to use the manual payment kiosks at Puhoi.
Other toll payment options are available which don’t require people to interrupt their trips to make manual payments, including paying online or by freephone, 0800 40 20 20. People can pay for single or multiple trips before their journey, or up to 5 days after their travel.
Seeing the queues of people who have to pull over to use a kiosk, I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t pay online.
7 Comments
I’ve always wondered, what happens to rental cars if they just drive through and don’t pay. Does the rental company have to foot the bill or do they charge the credit card if a fine comes through for the vehicle?
@Jon: I don’t understand why people don’t pay online either, or better… set up an account for $20.00 upfront, and it automatically comes up from your bank account, with statements delivered monthly by email (if there was any activity)… No need to remember to pay that way. Ultimate convenience… We (NZ) now have the most advanced system in the world, and people still complain… If people have a problem with the $20.00 upfront, think of it as buying an invisible transmitter that you would need if you were anywhere else in the world anyway. Except that deposit IS refundable if you no longer travel toll roads…
@Andy: I recently read a full contract (!!!) while renting a car … they will take it from the credit card + admin fee of $60.00 in my case… so better pay up
People really need to be encouraged to pay online or over the phone, I don’t know why you would want to stop when the whole purpose of the road is to save you time. If you are prepared to stop and wait for 5 minutes to use a machine you would have been better just using the alternate free route.
When I use the northern gateway which is not very much I need, no have to stop at the gas station and do it manually because then I can get a pie. Happy days. If I was using it more than a few times a year I would put some cash in an account like @Stranded on the North Shore mentioned. It’s a no brainer, no phone calls, or online payments, or stopping to make a manual payment. It is a good system and offers a lot of payment options which is very good.
@MattL so true! @DanC: In the last 12 months I’ve used the toll road 4 times. I still consider it worth the $20.00 sitting there (well, it’s now $12.00) as a convenience… In the end I did just pay few thousands for the car for the convenience… didn’t I ?
More toll roads are coming with this system, so no regrets there.
Although I am baffled why they have not extended the very useful TXT-A-PARK system to allow you to pay this toll via your mobile,
Yes I know that you need to ensure that it does not encourage txting and driving,
But surely an initial txt to link a mobile number to a number plate, and then each time you use the road you get a txt message asking if you want to pay for the most recent trip via your phone bill, you txt back a code in the reminder txt and bang it is paid.
No need to stop, or have a credit card or bank account to complete the transaction.