Bay of Plenty Regional Council approves first bus fare increase since 2018

I have to say that I am really angry at the lack of spine by many of my fellow councillors on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council when Kat Macmillan, supported by Stuart Crosby, undermined the Public Transport Committee’s recommendation for a 25% increase for  Bay of Plenty urban bus fares – the first fare rise in the seven years of the nine-year contract, with an amended 10% increase starting 22^nd January 2026. The hike affects all urban services except long-distance routes, with passengers paying up to 28 cents more (with a BeeCard) per trip.

I explained to the meeting that Bay of Plenty Regional Council only has an average farebox recovery of 60 cents per trips taken (10.85% versus NZTA’s requirement of 14.4%). The average across New Zealand is $1.87 per passenger trip. I told the meeting that if we wanted increased NZTA support for public transport we needed to address the farebox recovery issue.

Staff had recommended to the Regional Public Transport Committee an increase of 36%, and despite being told by staff that the cost to action such a small change would negate the benefit s of the change, the vote at 10% was passed by 7 councillors to 6 opposed.

It is decisions like this that see Tauranga City ratepayers paying unaffordable rates. I urge all voters in the upcoming election to only support the two councillors who voted against the 10% increase – Ron Scott and myself. You need to send a clear message that ratepayers don’t have a bottomless pot of money and we require strong governance, based on efficiency and effectiveness.