TL;DR: In July 2026, fake QR code stickers appeared on parking meters across Christchurch, with meter screens scribbled over so drivers couldn’t pay normally. By September, they’d spread to Auckland and Wellington. The codes led to fake payment sites run by offshore scammers to steal card details. Christchurch City Council says it "would never prompt payment through QR codes," and Auckland Transport doesn’t use QR codes on any meters. Pay at the machine or in the official app.
What happened
Christchurch, July 2026. 1News reported stickers on council and private meters. Screens were vandalised with permanent marker to stop people paying at the machine and push them to scan. Head of transport Stephen Wright said the council "would never prompt payment through QR codes."
Auckland, September 2026. Auckland Transport found stickers on city-centre meters, with similar finds in Wellington and Christchurch. AT "does not use QR codes on any of our parking meters or machines." Police said the sites are run by offshore scam operations.
The NCSC flagged it in its quarterly report.
The marker-pen detail is the clever bit. Break the honest option, then offer the dishonest one as the "fix."
How to pay for parking safely
- Auckland: the AT Park app, or card at the machine.
- Christchurch: the payment method shown on the meter.
- Anywhere: the council’s official app or the machine itself.
NCSC’s QR tips
- Check the web address after scanning. Unusual? Don’t enter anything.
- Be wary of codes that look stuck on or over an existing code.
- Be careful with codes tied to urgent requests.
- Tell friends and family.
If you scanned and paid
- Call your bank and cancel the card.
- Report to Police (105.police.govt.nz) and your council or AT.
- Report to the NCSC.
Not just NZ: Australians have seen similar government-themed scams, and the UK had the same parking QR stickers. A free exposure check shows if your details are already in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do NZ councils use QR codes on parking meters?
Christchurch City Council says it would never prompt payment through QR codes, and Auckland Transport doesn’t use QR codes on any meters.
Where have fake parking QR codes been found in NZ?
Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.
What should I do if I paid through a parking QR code?
Call your bank, then report to Police, the council or AT, and the NCSC.
How do I pay for parking in Auckland?
With the AT Park app or by card at the parking machine.
Sources
- 1News: Fake QR code payment stickers found on Christchurch parking meters
- Auckland Transport: Aucklanders warned about scam parking meter QR codes (8 Sep 2026)
- NCSC: QR codes, think before you scan