North Waikato region

What you told us

• Regional connectivity is vital. Respondents strongly supported maintaining and improving links between Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Hamilton and Pukekohe, especially for commuters, students and seniors.
• Access to healthcare and essential services matters. Many people rely on buses to reach medical appointments, shopping and social connections, particularly in Pukekohe and South Auckland.
• Flexibility and integration are important. We saw strong interest in better coordination with rail services (e.g. Te Huia), express routes, and potential local services in Ngāruawāhia and Hopuhopu, with calls for improved infrastructure and promotion.

How did community feedback shape the final decisions?

• Based on feedback, the #44 service will now be extended to Te Kauwhata earlier than originally planned, replacing the Te Kauwhata to Pukekohe leg of the Northern Connector.
• As a result of this change, additional Te Kauwhata to Hamilton services have been deferred to the medium term. The interest in a Pokeno to Drury service also prompted us to include it in medium-term plans.
• Feedback showed a preference for regional connectivity over local services, so no new Ngāruawāhia to Hopuhopu service is currently planned. We will keep investigating local needs through future engagement.

What’s coming

Short term

• Northern Connector (21):
  • Te Kauwhata to Pukekohe leg will cease due to low usage.
  • We will retain the Hamilton to Te Kauwhata service (three return trips per day).
  • The number of Huntly to Hamilton services will remain.
• Pokeno to Pukekohe (44):
  • We will extend this service to Te Kauwhata (via Mercer and Meremere) at 60-minute frequency (weekdays only).
  • We keep the current Pokeno to Pukekohe frequency as it is.

Medium term

• Northern Connector (22):
  • We will add two additional Te Kauwhata to Hamilton trips, morning and afternoon.
• Pokeno to Pukekohe (44):
  • We will increase this service to every 30 minutes (peak) and 60 minutes (off peak).
  • New express service from Pokeno–Drury (via SH1) will make two return trips per day during peak hours.

Long term

• Northern Connector (21):
  • Huntly to Hamilton will run every 20 minutes (peak), and 60 minutes (off-peak).
  • Te Kauwhata to Hamilton will run every 60 minutes.
• Pokeno to Pukekohe (44):
  • Pokeno to Pukekohe will run every 20 minutes (peak), and 60 minutes (off peak).
  • Te Kauwhata extension will run every 30 minutes (peak), and 60 minutes (off peak).
• Express service from Pokeno to Drury will increase to six return trips per day.

View the full report for the North Waikato region