Regional Public Transport Plan 2022-2032 fare policy review

Waikato Regional Public Transport Plan fare policy review

Waikato Regional Council is reviewing the fare policy in the Waikato Regional Public Transport Plan 2022–2032. This means looking at how public transport fares work across the Waikato, including fare zones, concessions, fare products, transfers, and fares for buses, Te Huia and on-demand transport.

We want a fare system that is simple, fair and financially sustainable, while still keeping public transport affordable and easy to access.

Why are fares important?

Fares help pay for the public transport services people use for work, study, appointments, shopping and catch-ups with whānau and friends. They also affect how easy the system is to understand and use. A good fare system can help keep travel affordable, encourage more people to use public transport and support services over time.

Why do we need a review?

The current fare system has become harder to understand over time, with different fare products, concessions and rules across the network. Public transport costs have also gone up, and the Government expects more of these costs to be covered by fares. Motu Move, the new National Ticketing Solution coming in 2027, gives us a chance to review the fare system and make sure it is ready for the future.

The Regional Transport Committee has developed a proposed package of changes. The package keeps important parts of the current system, while aiming to make fare policies clearer and easier to manage.

Have your say on the future of public transport fares

We want to hear what you think about the proposed fare policy changes. Your feedback will help council understand what people support, what concerns they have, and how the changes could affect passengers, households, communities and organisations.

Consultation opens on Thursday, 3 September 2026 at 9am and closes at 5pm on Monday, 5 October 2026. No final decision has been made. The feedback you share will help inform council’s final decision.

Waikato Regional Public Transport Plan fare policy review

Waikato Regional Council is reviewing the fare policy in the Waikato Regional Public Transport Plan 2022–2032. This means looking at how public transport fares work across the Waikato, including fare zones, concessions, fare products, transfers, and fares for buses, Te Huia and on-demand transport.

We want a fare system that is simple, fair and financially sustainable, while still keeping public transport affordable and easy to access.

Why are fares important?

Fares help pay for the public transport services people use for work, study, appointments, shopping and catch-ups with whānau and friends. They also affect how easy the system is to understand and use. A good fare system can help keep travel affordable, encourage more people to use public transport and support services over time.

Why do we need a review?

The current fare system has become harder to understand over time, with different fare products, concessions and rules across the network. Public transport costs have also gone up, and the Government expects more of these costs to be covered by fares. Motu Move, the new National Ticketing Solution coming in 2027, gives us a chance to review the fare system and make sure it is ready for the future.

The Regional Transport Committee has developed a proposed package of changes. The package keeps important parts of the current system, while aiming to make fare policies clearer and easier to manage.

Have your say on the future of public transport fares

We want to hear what you think about the proposed fare policy changes. Your feedback will help council understand what people support, what concerns they have, and how the changes could affect passengers, households, communities and organisations.

Consultation opens on Thursday, 3 September 2026 at 9am and closes at 5pm on Monday, 5 October 2026. No final decision has been made. The feedback you share will help inform council’s final decision.

  • RPTP 2022-2032 proposed fare policy review

    25 responses

    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.

    Have your say
Page last updated: 03 Sep 2026, 03:06 PM