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RPTP 2022-2032 proposed fare policy review

Help shape the future of public transport fares

Public transport fare policies affect what people pay to move around the Waikato, whether it’s by bus or train to get to work, school, appointments, shops, events or connect with whānau and friends.

Waikato Regional Council is asking for feedback on proposed changes to the fare policies in the Waikato Regional Public Transport Plan 2022–2032. These policies guide how fares work across the region, including fare zones, concessions, fare products, transfers, and fares for buses and Te Huia.

The proposed changes are about making fares easier to understand, fairer for passengers and more sustainable to run. We want to know what you support, what concerns you, and how the proposed changes could affect you, your household, your organisation or your community.

Some of the proposals include:

  • retaining the Accessibility Concession and PlusOne companion concession
  • aligning SuperGold free travel on buses with the national off-peak SuperGold scheme
  • retaining adult fare caps and applying the same weekly cap to youth fares across bus and rail
  • providing a 20 per cent discount for youth bus fares
  • extending youth Te Huia fare eligibility to ages 5–18
  • allowing fares to be reviewed annually so any changes can be smaller, more gradual and easier to plan for.


We’re also asking one final question that is separate from this proposal. Council wants to understand whether future changes to Hamilton’s inner fare zone could help encourage more people to use the bus.

Have your say from Thursday, 3 September 2026. Feedback closes at 5pm on Monday, 5 October 2026.

What happens next

After consultation closes, we will look at all feedback received through the online survey, written submissions and hearings. We will identify common themes, areas of support, concerns and any suggested changes. AI will be used in the analysis of survey results.

Your feedback will help councillors decide whether to make changes to the fare policies in the Regional Public Transport Plan. If council decides to go ahead, the changes are expected to start when Motu Move, the National Ticketing Solution, is introduced in the Waikato in 2027.

No final decision has been made. Please take part and help shape how public transport fares work in the Waikato.

1.  

Please choose which questions you would like to provide feedback on

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A possible future Hamilton Inner Fare Zone

Council is wanting to explore further how current and future passengers would like to travel within Hamilton. 

Currently, Council offers a Central City Zone within Hamilton where all bus trips within this zone are $1.34 on a Bee Card. Travel within the wider Hamilton zone (the Hamilton city boundary) is $2.67 on a Bee Card. 

Option one: Explore a single Hamilton zone where a trip within the urban area costs the same no matter the journey length (i.e. removing the discounted Central City Zone). 

Option two: Further explore the current two zone model, where passengers pay a different fare depending on their journey length. This may mean replacing the discounted Central City Zone with a new larger inner Hamilton zone. 

This is not part of the current recommended package, and no changes to the current Hamilton zone is proposed at this time. If this option is to be further considered, more detailed work will be required to determine the future Hamilton zone boundaries and associated fare prices. We are seeking feedback on whether this option should be considered as part of future fare reviews. 

Any future Hamilton inner fare zone would need to be simple, easy to understand, and fair for passengers. 

3.  

Which option would you prefer?

Hearings and decision making

You can speak to councillors about your feedback in person or via video link (if you wish).

Details will be available online at waikatoregion.govt.nz/council-meetings.

Councillors will make decisions.

Your feedback will be taken into account along with other submissions from across the region. All meetings are open to the public.

4.  

Would you like to speak to your feedback or submission at a hearing?

* required