Affordable Metlink fare increase and off-peak discount to be decided by council
A Metlink fare increase while maintaining affordable off-peak travel is being considered by the regional council, with a decision to be made at the upcoming council meeting on Thursday 27 February.
A 2.2% fare increase and adjustment to the off-peak discount from 50% to 30% when using a Snapper card is proposed, following the Council’s annual review of Metlink fares.
The annual review is a policy requirement for the Council to ensure fares are kept in line with inflation and cost pressures, taking wider budget and funding requirements into account. This ensures that public transport users make a sustainable and equitable contribution towards funding of the network along with rate payers, tax payers, and other sources of private funding.
Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Thomas Nash says the fare increase is necessary to keep costs fair across transport users and ratepayers.
Bearing in mind our fiscal constraints, we have no choice but to increase fares to keep up with inflation and operational costs. We are also mindful of keeping rates increases affordable for everyone,
“From reducing congestion to lowering carbon emissions, everyone benefits from public transport, and Metlink is committed to making it affordable, accessible, safe and reliable.
“I don't want to lower the discount for off-peak fares, but government plans to reduce its share of funding to public transport give us no choice. An off-peak discount of 30% still makes a difference for people in our community who travel at different times, and Metlink remains one of the only transport providers in the country with an off-peak discount.”
With the 2.2% fare increase and a 30% off-peak discount, an adult travelling during off-peak times from Karori to Wellington CBD would pay $3.17, up from the current fare of $2.22. Travelling off-peak continues to be an affordable option compared to the $4.53 peak fare for the same journey.
“Metlink fares remain among the most affordable public transport fares globally, but we understand that any increase feels difficult in the current climate,” adds Cr Nash.
Metlink senior manager of strategy and investments, Tim Shackleton, says Metlink is working with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to set targets around public transport affordability and efficiency.
“Fares, rate payers, tax payers and the private sector all contribute to funding the public transport,” Shackleton says.
“Last year the Government set the direction to increase public transport revenue from non-government sources, and we are working with NZTA to set achievable funding targets from fares and third-party revenues such as advertising.
“Metlink advertising revenue has tripled in just over the last four years, and we continue to look for opportunities to grow our private funding sources.”
If the Council agrees to the proposed 2.2% fare increase and change to the off-peak discount, changes will come into effect from 1 July 2025.
SuperGold card users will continue to travel for free at off-peak times, and existing concession discounts still apply. Off-peak discounts do not apply to ferry and Airport Express services.
Off-peak travel times are before 7am for bus, and between 9am-3pm, after 6.30pm, and all-day weekends and public holidays on bus and rail.