FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 11/5/09

C4FFF Heads For Wellington In Battle For Public Accountability

With news just announced that the government will be reviewing the Public Transport Management Act in July, Campaign for Fair Ferry Fares (C4FFF) is stepping up its plans to call for public accountability of Fullers and other private operators running public transport services, and has decided to take its current petition – launched last Friday – all the way to Wellington.

C4FFF spokersperson Dr Urquhart says the group’s petition, which calls for Fullers to be accountable to both the community and the governing transport authority (currently ARTA), was launched on 1 May at Waiheke’s Matiatia Wharf, and already has more than 500 signatures in just ten days. “People are falling over themselves to sign – there is a lot of awareness out there, and we have already seen a huge amount of support.”

Dr Urquhart adds, “The recent takeover of Fullers [by private operator Souter Holdings] illustrates the problem we have with public transport on the island. We have no say about what happens to our public transport! The link to the CBD is vital, the cost of that link affects our economy and our social demographics, when people can no longer afford to live or visit here. Yet the public are never consulted about fare rises or the effect of those rises on the community.’

In its current form, the Public Transport Management Act (PTMA) gives ARTA the authority to put services out to commercial tender and impose controls on a particular route. C4FFF believes the July review may amend that legislation and remove the vital mechanism of public accountability, and is calling for people to sign the petition and to attend a public meeting on Waiheke on Saturday 16 May.

The meeting – co-sponsored by the Better Buses Action Group – will take place at the Ostend Memorial Hall on Saturday 16 May at 2pm, and will allow the community to debate transport issues with a panel that so far includes Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, Hauraki Gulf Councillor Denise Roche, ARTA General Manager Peter Clark, Green Party Transport Advisor David Hay, and Auckland Labour list MP Phil Twyford. Invitations have also been extended to Fullers CEO Doug Hudson and Auckland Regional Council.

Dr Urquhart says, ‘It’s vital that we come along to the meeting and speak up about the issues that will affect the future economic and social prosperity of our island! We need to speak out loud and clear before the government reviews the PTMA in July, and in case ARTA's powers to enforce some sort of accountability for private transport operators is revoked.’ Dr Uquhart adds, ‘The government’s early review of the PTMA has put on hold a vital process of public consultation that is urgently required to ensure that Waiheke – and other transport disadvantaged communities – are not at the continued mercy of private monopolies.’

People who would like to know more about the Public Transport Management Plan, can contact C4FFF for further information on campaign4fairferryfares@gmail.com. People can also participate in the online transport survey and access the petition to support public accountability at the C4FFF website http://fullerswatch.blogspot.com/

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