Puzzling "bad parking cards" have been left on windshields in Auckland and Tauranga this week, to the surprise of two drivers confused at what they did wrong.
Auckland Transport said it understands parking could be a "very emotive issue" but warned others from pursuing the "very high risk" approach to dealing with parking.
An Auckland driver told 1News they noticed the card on their windscreen yesterday and believed it was placed on their car at a Takapuna supermarket on the North Shore.
On the front, the card read, "Attention: You Parked Like An Idiot", whilst on the reverse the card-writer wrote: "There is room for 3 and u took 2! (sic)"
The accused motorist told 1News: "I don't remember any particularly bad parking but obviously someone took umbrage to it."
The North Shore man said he wasn't bothered by the card, but thought some people could find being called an "idiot" a "bit abusive".
A spokesperson for Auckland Transport (AT) said the agency understood parking could be "a very emotive issue" for some, but it encouraged people to report problems instead.
"We don't endorse these cards," AT said in a statement.
"Parking can be a very emotive issue, but a member of the public challenging another person is potentially a very high-risk scenario.
"Instead, we encourage anyone who witnesses illegal parking to contact us so we can deal with the situation appropriately. We also encourage all road users to behave with courtesy and think of their fellow road users.
"Safety of everyone who uses the roads is our priority, so we appreciate all calls to AT when you witness something on the network that raises concern.
They continued: "For those in Auckland tempted to leave a card, please call AT and report the parking behaviour as we are best placed and equipped to assist.
"Also, by reporting any issues officially we can look at the bigger picture. This may influence potential change to an on-street environment as needed."
Earlier this week, The Bay of Plenty Times reported on a Tauranga driver who found a "threatening card" left on their windscreen.
"Who’s the a**hole handing these out?" they wrote in a social media post.
The person's card read: "You. Yes you. You park badly... and you should feel bad.
"Stop. Use the bus, get a bike, or get lessons. Preferably all three.
"Sincerely, every other person on the road."
On the reverse, the card concluded: "Next time you will be keyed. Thank you."
Photos from the Tauranga poster showed a Nissan Leaf parked in a road-side bay.
Another commenter responded: "Literally nothing wrong with that parking."
On the counter, another posited: "You are assuming that the parking he or she got the note for was the parking in the picture. An a**ehole who is a certified bad parker is most likely to stage a nicely parked car to try to get support to justify his bad parking."
The cards appear to be easily available for purchase from overseas online retailers, when searching for "bad parking cards".
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