Free trips for seniors on popular bus service

18 November 2015

Seniors with SuperGold Cards will be able to travel for free on the Hawera-New Plymouth Connector bus service during off-peak hours from 30 November onwards.

Cardholders using the popular weekday service between 9am and 3pm will not have to pay a fare if they show their card to the driver. New Connector timetables highlight the services and bus stops for which this apply.

The Government-administered SuperGold Card is a discounts and concessions card for seniors and veterans, in recognition of their contribution to New Zealand society. It already enables free off-peak travel on Taranaki’s other commuter bus services, Citylink in New Plymouth and Southlink in south and coastal Taranaki. But there was a moratorium on new services when the Connector service began in 2014.

“There have been a few changes to the scheme and now we’ve won approval to include the Connector, which is fantastic news,” says Chris Clarke, Transport Services Manager for the Taranaki Regional Council, which provides the Connector, Citylink and Southlink services through contracted operators.

“The free trips apply from 30 November and the only requirements are to use the service between 9am and 3pm, and to have your SuperGold Card on you and show it to the driver. Otherwise you’ll have to pay the full fare.”

The Connector, operated by Pickering Motors, makes four return trips between Hawera and New Plymouth every weekday except public holidays. Passenger numbers have risen steadily since it started, exceeding initial expectations.

For timetables and other details about the Connector and other Taranaki bus services, go to www.taranakibus.info. For information on SuperGold Cards, go to www.supergold.govt.nz.

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