MEDIA RELEASE

Daran Ponter
Councillor
Greater Wellington Regional Council

27 March 2011
2012 Public Transport Fare Increases

The Greater Wellington Regional Council today agreed to increase public transport fares from 1 October in 2012.

Four councillors – Daran Ponter (Wellington), Judith Aitken (Wellington), Paul Bruce (Wellington), Nigel Wilson (Kapiti Coast) and opposed the fare increases.

The fare increases will generate extra revenue of 3%. Individual fares will be variously affected from nil increases to more than 10% fare increases.

Daran Ponter says that “The Wellington Regional Council has an unduly complicated fare structure which I hope will be simplified in the Fare Structure Review due for public consultation later this year.”

“I prefer a system with clearer distinction between pricing for peak and off-peak fares, on both buses and trains. A low off-peak fare would allow students and beneficiaries better access to public transport.”

“I am also concerned that the fare increases further reinforces the cross subsidisation by Wellington bus users, of rail users. As long as this continues Wellington bus users will continue to pay higher fares than then should be.”

“I will continue to vote against public transport fare increases until integrated ticketing is a reality across the Wellington Region. Despite having budgeted $39 million for integrated ticketing in its draft Long Term Plan, integrated ticketing is still at least 5 years away, which is just simply ridiculous! “

ENDS

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