Canterbury’s regional council continues to push back against Government pressure to raise bus fares.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) voted for a gradual increase in bus fares over the next three years, despite Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency pushing for sharper fare rises.
The existing $2 and $1 bus fares contribute just 11.7% to the cost of fares, but NZTA has set targets of increasing the private contribution to 18% for the 2024-25 financial year, 25% for 2025-26 and 38% for 2026-27.
However, ECan councillors accepted a staff proposal to increase the private share to 12% this year, followed by 13% and 14% increases each year after, at a council meeting on Wednesday.
