Media release
28 June 2013
Clear direction agreed for public transport fares
Weekend family bus and train passes, half price fares for all young people under 19 years, free transfers and cheaper
off peak fares, are some of the proposed changes to Wellington public transport fares, endorsed this week by the
Regional Council.
The proposed changes form a new fare structure to make the region’s public transport more user friendly and attractive.
After further analysis and costing, the proposals will go out for public consultation early next year as part of the
Regional Public Transport Plan process.
Some of the proposed changes, such as family passes and half price fares for children and young adults under 19, could
be in place in two or three years’ time, while others – such as free transfers between services, bulk purchase of
discounted bus or train tickets for tertiary institutions and other organisations, capping fares after a maximum number
of journeys and discounted off peak fares – will take at least five years to implement because they depend on changes to
contracts and electronic integrated ticketing.
Electronic integrated ticketing enables you to use just one card for all your public transport travel.
Peter Glensor, Chair of the Council’s Economic Wellbeing Committee which is responsible for public transport, says the
proposed fare structure is based on a set of very sound principles to help the Regional Council meet its desired goals
for public transport. These include: increased public transport patronage, affordable public transport, and a simpler,
fairer and more consistent fare system.
He says a really important principle of the proposed new structure is rewarding target behaviours. “This avoids us
having to choose winners and losers when making decisions about fare concessions. For example, an across the board
concession for all tertiary students would mean every person studying at a tertiary institution – regardless of their
economic circumstances – would pay cheaper fares. However, young people on the minimum wage or unemployment benefit, for
example, would pay the full fare.
“A system that rewards regular users of public transport by capping fares at, say, 10 trips per week or giving
discounted fares to those who travel outside peak hours, is a fairer and more equitable one than one which picks winners
and losers. And yet, these changes will benefit many tertiary students, with Victoria University reporting that two
thirds of student travel is in the off peak.
“Affordable public transport is another really important principle and goal of the proposed new fare structure. Our
Council meeting this week discussed a report on the social impact of changes in public transport fares. We have agreed
that Council staff will meet with the Ministry of Social Development about the detrimental impact of transport costs on
households with low or very low income, especially amongst beneficiaries in this region, and whether current benefits
are sufficient to enable members of those households to have affordable access to public transport.”
Details of the proposed fare structure are at www.gw.govt.nz/fare-structure-review
ENDS