Big moves have been made to enable school children to catch the bus for free anytime in Tauranga. Photo / Getty Images
Big moves have been made to enable school children to catch the bus for free anytime in Tauranga. Photo / Getty Images
Bay public transport leaders have voted to trial anytime free bus fares for school-age Tauranga children.
And they also plan to extend the city's successful trial of free school buses in pick-up and drop-off hours to students in the wider Bay of Plenty region.
The decision comes after impassioned pleasregarding the future of public transport in a Bay of Plenty Regional Council meeting today, during the council's Long-term Plan deliberations.
But councillors were warned such a move would not necessarily be cheap or supported by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Both decisions were made with the provision they were subject to funding from the transport agency.
Other decisions carried today, not pending support from the agency, include expanding the fare free service to include tertiary students and Community Services Card holders, as well as funding a Carless Wednesday business case and providing better bus services in Rotorua. The council has previously voted to give disabled people free fares.
In the meeting, council staff warned councillors against free fares due to "financial challenges" but suggested a one-year trial of free fares for school students in the wider Bay at specific times.
Councillor Lyall Thurston called on his colleagues to "be brave".
"To me, there's a herd of three elephants in this room - transport, climate change and carbon emissions. To me, they are the real big issues we need to address. We must stand up to be transformational. Now's the time to show leadership, particularly in Tauranga. We may not be popular but now's the time to make a move. Tauranga can't wait. I urge you to be bold, be brave and we can work through this."
Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Lyall Thurston, flanked by fellow regional councillors Kevin Winters (left) and Stacey Rose (right). Photo / NZME
Councillor Paula Thompson said the free fares for school students in Tauranga had already proven to be a success and continuing or extending the programme was a "no brainer".
"My issue is around what could be the benefit if we tried free fares all the time. We have a lot of after-hours extra-curricula activities and they are not supported by buses, therefore we are getting mum and dad back out on the road again."
Councillor Jane Nees said the community had already shown strong support for the initiative.
"Their kids are on the bus because it's free, not because the bus is fun."
However, councillor Stuart Crosby said did not think the region could afford it. He supported the continuation of Tauranga's existing service "but not 24/7". Councillor David Love backed those views.
The cost to extend the free fare bus service to Rotorua and Whakatāne was estimated to cost $1.4 million in foregone revenue. This was expected to be picked up by targeted rates per household that translated to $24 in Tauranga, $4 in Rotorua and $1 in Whakatāne.
Councillor Andrew von Dadelszen said it was important to note that each passenger on a bus in Tauranga had a "raw cost" before subsidies of $13.37 a year. In Rotorua, it was $15.11 and in the Western Bay it translated to $64.94.
Tauranga's school students cost $5.36 each, he said.
Rotorua Boys' High School principal Chris Grinter. Photo / NZME
"If we are going to spend more money we have to get better outcomes, otherwise it's ridiculous. These are pretty horrific figures.
"Whether NZTA will continue to support the free fares service for schools ... [we don't know].
Transport agency director of regional relationships David Speirs said the organisation would continue to work with the regional council to investigate options to increase bus patronage and support school children to use buses.
"Waka Kotahi is committed to getting more people onto buses to reduce emissions, free up room on our transport network and create space for freight."
All school students can currently travel for free on dedicated Bayhopper school buses or Tauranga urban routes on school days before 9am and between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. This trial, launched in 2019 after a Welcome Bay trial and lobbying from parents, was previously extended to the end of the 2021 school year.
The fight for free school buses has been around since 2019, with then Aquinas College deputy principal Kust Kennedy, students Sam Way, Ben Sokimi and parent Lee-Ann Taylor. Photo / NZME
Lee-Ann Taylor, head of the Aquinas College Parent-Teacher Association, was one of those who pushed for the service.
Taylor hoped the initiative would create a pattern in which children would continue to use buses as they grew older, but the benefits didn't stop there, she said.
"I couldn't begin to tell you how many parents have said how much the monetary savings goes towards a better quality of life for their whānau."
Bay of Plenty Regional Council member Andrew von Dadelszen says free buses for school students are not really free. Photo / NZME
Aquinas Principal Matt Dalton said the initiative reduced a potential barrier for students accessing the faith-based education, which Aquinas offered.
"It's really great news that students are able to have that access to our school, without the financial pressure or barrier that paid buses presented."
Rotorua Principals Association president and Mamaku School principal Gary Veysi said free buses would make a huge difference to children in Rotorua, especially those in emergency housing who did not always have access to cars.
Veysi said there were Rotorua principals who had worked hard to ensure all children were attending school and believed the free buses would make one less barrier in their way.
Rotorua Boys' High School principal Chris Grinter said the move would "significantly benefit students in the Eastern and Western suburbs of Rotorua, who want to come to our school but can't afford it".
"Likewise for those who already travel on those services, it will mean a significant saving for them and their whānau."
A Toi Ohomai spokeswoman said anything that removed a potential barrier to education was something to celebrate.
The decisions will now be incorporated into the regional councils' draft Long-term Plan for adoption next month.
