Dan Moskovitz, He/Him
Public transport is about to get more expensive, thanks to the government’s policies.
The cost of each public transport trip is split between the rider, the relevant regional council, and central government. When half-price fares were in effect, the amount riders paid went as low as 11.6%, though with their removal the number is now closer to 27%.
National, however, want this to rise to 40%, the percentage paid back in 2017. They instructed regional councils to make plans to get there by the end of 2024.
Regional councils however had already finalized their long-term plans - where they allocate funding for various projects - meaning this was a large, unexpected, and sudden financial burden. Fare rises on Metlink - run by the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) - were initially feared to be as high as 70%.
“We had already set both rates and fares for 2025,” said GWRC chair Daran Ponter. “As such, it was rather galling how central government dictated us to lift our public transport fares.”
“It felt like we were handed a fait accompli. They had quite frankly, fanciful ideas about the revenue streams regional councils can generate.
“It’s a reflection of the lack of connection the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has to local government processes.”
In a letter to the then Minister of Transport Simeon Brown, Ponter requested a moratorium on the process, citing the “unreasonable and unachievable” deadline for such radical change.
“We made points which were difficult to deny. The proposals as they were then would see fares increase to the point of hollowing out our public transport network.”
The moratorium was effectively granted as Waka Kotahi NZTA and regional councils negotiate on the future of public transport. But Ponter says NZTA remains intent on pushing ahead with “aggressive changes.”
“There’s a strong public good element to public transport. If you increase fares too much, you drive people back into private vehicles. Then you’ve got a whole new financial equation to work through in terms of maintenance to accommodate there being more cars on the street.”
But the changes are coming regardless, meaning costs have to be slashed somewhere. The off-peak fare discount - currently 50% - is first up, with GWRC considering reducing it to 30%. This accompanies a proposed 2.2% Metlink fare increase to keep pace with inflation.
Any changes will have major impacts on Vic students especially. In late 2024, Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith and former VUWSA president Marcail Parkinson co-wrote a letter to Minister Brown with their concerns.
“Over 50 percent of Te Herenga Waka students rely on public transport to get to and from campus. Increasing costs will place more financial burden on students,” said a spokesperson for Vice-Chancellor Smith.
“We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving a goal of net zero carbon by 2030. We don’t want to see an increase in students having to drive to campus because of the cost of public transport.”
The spokesperson confirmed neither the uni nor VUWSA received any response from the minister.
Salient asked new transport minister Chris Bishop how he intended to alleviate the financial pressures fare increases would put on students. Bishop ignored the question, telling Salient instead how the government intends to “reduce the burden on ratepayers and taxpayers” regarding public transport.
