Parking at Invercargill Airport is about to get a little easier with drivers no longer having to present car park tickets, thanks to the introduction of new Number Plate Recognition technology.

The new system, scheduled to go live on Thursday (16 May), will recognise vehicle number plates as drivers approach the barriers with the arms automatically rising.

When it’s time to leave, drivers can pay via QR code (found in multiple locations inside the terminal and around the car park) and then drive to the exit.

Under the old system the airport printed around 112,000 tickets per year.

The free parking period has also been increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

Invercargill Airport chief executive Stuart Harris says the new system would offer a significantly better experience for visitors and travellers.

“Ticketless parking is an essential element of our ongoing operational improvement programme.”

Similar systems already operate throughout New Zealand including at the Invercargill Central carpark.