Bus fares drop for youth after outcry

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Author: James Pocock
• Publication title: Hastings Leader, The

Youth aged 5 to 18 years will pay $1.25 for one zone trips, within Napier or Hastings and $1.50 for two zone trips, between Napier and Hastings, from May 1

Currently, youth aged between 5 to 12 are free while people aged 13 to 24 pay 50 cents for a one-zone trip and $1 for a two-zone trip.

Parents had criticised proposed changes which would have seen youth pay the same as adults.

Parents faced paying up to six times more for children’s school bus fares under the proposed increase, as reported in Hawke’s Bay Today on March 22.

Katrina Brunton, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council general manager of policy and regulation, said community feedback on the new fare structure highlighted the need for the youth fare.

“It is important to note that this is not just for students but for any young person between the ages of 5 and 18,” Brunton said.

“The increase in fares is a result of rising operational costs such as fuel, labour, maintenance, and administration, as well as the removal by...