There's no such thing as a free lunch, unless you've got an empty driveway.

Taranaki Base Hospital has asked nearby residents if it can use their driveways for staff parking, during construction of it's new wing.

In exchange residents are invited to lunch with the TDHB chief executive Rosemary Clements.

DHB Spokesperson Polly Caitlin-Maybury told Andrew Dickens it wouldn't be the Taranaki way to pay for the parks.

"This is a place where we help each other out and that's what it's all about."

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