Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Youth Affairs

19 December 2007 Media Statement

Minister welcomes discounts for students

Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta is praising the recent announcement by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to give tertiary students discounts on public transport.

The announcement means full-time Auckland students will get a 40 per cent discount on the normal adult fare on 10-trip tickets. Students currently get a 10 per cent discount.

“It’s fantastic news for young people. Students face many costs, on limited budgets because they want to concentrate on their studies, so discounts like this will save them thousands of dollars annually, and I welcome this,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority has yet to finalise the exact fares, but if could mean that, over an academic year of 25 weeks of classes, a student living two stages from the University, can save up to $285 a year.

Nanaia Mahuta said using public transport will have both economic benefits, reduce congestion on the roads, and help the environment.

“Sustainability is at the heart of good government and this Labour-led government has done a lot of work on waste minimisation and management. We are seeing an increasing momentum towards achieving greater sustainability, and this announcement will help take us a step closer to this vision,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

“Most students are likely to use public transport as their means of travel, instead of maintaining a car, so this kind of discount goes a long way towards greater viability in using public transport.

“I applaud the Auckland Regional for their forward thinking in recognising both the needs of tertiary students, and their encouragement of sustainable public transport.

ENDS

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