Free week of bus travel as Hawke’s Bay unveils biggest network shake-up in years

Passengers are invited to explore Hawke's Bay's new bus network with a week of free rides, from January 25 to 31.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is offering a week of free bus rides to promote its new network.

For the first time, there will be public transport links to Hawke’s Bay Airport and the Regional Sports Park, and more connections to Hawke’s Bay Hospital and EIT.

The new network follows the scrapping of the council’s MyWay trial, which cost 159% more to operate than if it had kept its original bus routes.

The MyWay trial was launched with three vans in Hastings in 2022, replacing three existing bus routes. The service ends on January 23.

The regional council said the new network represented the most significant public transport changes in almost two decades, spanning Napier, Hastings and Havelock North.

Transport committee chairman Neil Kirton said the week of free travel, from January 25 to 31, was the perfect opportunity for people to experience the upgrade.

“We want everyone to see how much easier life can be with a more direct, better-connected service, which is why we’re making it completely free to ride for the first seven days.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to ditch the car for your commute, take the family out for an adventure, or simply explore the new routes. We’ve built this network to move our community forward, and there’s no better time to jump on board.”

Regional council transport manager Russell Turnbull said passengers would notice the difference immediately.

“We’ve moved away from complex loops to easier-to-understand, more direct routes, supported by nearly 100 additional bus stops.

“By making routes bi-directional, we are doubling the convenience for our passengers and drastically reducing wait times. This expansion means that reliable bus services are now within a short 400-metre walk of almost 100,000 residents across the region.”

But not everyone is happy about the changes.

Hastings District Council sent letters to 588 residents informing them about 180 new bus stops in the city.

Flaxmere resident Blair Kyle said he received his letter on November 17, stating that the council planned to install a bus stop outside his property.

“We have a bus stop three or four doors up the road and another one just around the corner on Wilson Rd.

“It’s bizarre and unnecessary.”

At the Hastings District Council meeting on December 11, councillors agreed to approve the installation of bus stops where there had been no objections, and to continue working with residents and businesses where there had been objections.

While the regional council is responsible for public transport, it is up to district and city councils to install bus stop signs and pavement markings.

Key bus route changes

Napier–Hastings

• These routes are streamlined, with Route 1 linking Napier, Hastings, and now Havelock North, and Route 11 serving Napier to Hastings via Clive and Whakatu.

Hastings

• The MyWay on-demand service ends on January 23, replaced by fixed GoBay routes. The Route 8 Hastings Circular covers Camberley, Frimley, Mahora, the CBD and Raureka, and services the edges of Mayfair, Parkvale and Akina.
• Routes 1, 6 Flaxmere-Akina and 7 Flaxmere-Karamu will also provide coverage through Hastings that current MyWay users can access.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.