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  • Andrew von Dadelszen

Bay of Plenty bus patronage increases by 22.9% year-on-year

Technology is leading the way in helping make sure the Bay of Plenty’s public transport network, run by Toi Moana, evolves to meet the region’s growing population. With more people choosing to use buses in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatāne, technology is helping our Baybus network lead efforts to improve services, making public transport more reliable and accessible.

Our region’s public transport system has seen significant growth in passenger numbers, with a 22.9% year-on-year increase (July 2023 – June 2024). This reflects a growing demand for buses across the rohe, with 628,577 additional journeys made by Baybus customers in the past year.

Key highlights:


  • Rotorua bus patronage saw a 10.5% increase (an additional 44,629 trips)

  • Tauranga bus patronage (including schools) saw a 25.2% increase (an additional 553,370 trips)

  • Whakatāne bus patronage saw a 16.9% increase (an additional 5,922 trips)


Toi Moana Councillor, and Chair of our Public Transport Committee, Andrew von Dadelszen, says there are many factors behind the surge in patronage.

“Growth in the region, higher fuel prices, and a shift towards sustainable lower-carbon travel are all leading more people to choose buses. We’re confident that the technology we’ve introduced to support these changes have also made public transport the smarter option for our community.”

Oliver Haycock, Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Public Transport Director says smart technology is driving improvements to our service and enhancing the overall customer experience. This includes a soon-to-launch, user-friendly website with real-time bus tracking, our innovative Baybus OnDemand service in Tauranga South, which features app-based dynamic routing, and the upcoming National Ticketing System, introducing a standardised payment system across all public transport services in New Zealand.

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