Green Party proposes $2 fare cap and free travel for some

The Green Party has unveiled a transport policy named Connecting Aotearoa, which proposes making public transport free for specific groups and capping adult fares at $2. Under the plan, children, teenagers, students, apprentices, Community Service Card holders, and Total Mobility users would travel for free.

The policy includes significant infrastructure investments, such as mass rapid transit or light rail in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Specific Auckland routes would run from Māngere to the city centre via Mt Roskill, while Wellington's service would connect Island Bay to the railway station, and Christchurch's would run from Hornby to Belfast.

Inter-city rail improvements are also promised, including an overnight passenger service between Auckland and Wellington and the return of the Southerner line between Christchurch and Dunedin. The party also intends to extend the Te Huia service from Hamilton to Tauranga.

The total cost of the plan is estimated at approximately $23.9 billion. This includes $21 billion for mass rapid transit and rail, $1.3 billion for fare changes, $75 million for electric buses, $406 million for inter-regional buses, $290 million for walking and biking spaces, and $824 million for public transport improvements.

How it developed

• Sun 4 Oct, 3:42pmReport 4 provides a detailed breakdown of the $23.9 billion total cost and mentions that the light rail projects could take about a decade to implement.

Where reports differ

• Reports vary on the total cost of the plan, with estimates ranging from $13.65 billion to $23.9 billion.
• One report estimates the cost of fare changes at $1.3 billion over four years, while another cites Parliamentary Library costing of $262 million for 2027/28 rising to $381 million by 2030/31.

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, The Post, 1News and RNZ.