CityLink to resume service in Whangārei after rocks thrown at bus

CityLink had to operate a loop service on William Jones Drive in Ōtangarei instead of Matai St after rocks were thrown in several incidents. Photo / CityLink Facebook

Whangārei’s CityLink bus service will be returning to a Northland street removed from the route after buses were pelted with rocks multiple times.

Northland Regional Council transport manager Chris Powell said the service on Matai St, Ōtangarei, was due to restart on July 7.

He indicated a key reason for the restart was that elderly residents faced “significant hardship” walking to the nearest bus stop in the winter weather.

In March, Powell said bus windows had been smashed in several rock-throwing incidents on Matai St.

Both drivers and passengers had been left shaken by the incidents, he said.

CityLink started operating a loop around nearby William Jones Drive while the Matai St service was suspended.

Now the service is to be reinstated, Powell said it would be re-examined if more rock-throwing incidents occurred.

Powell said the council was committed to the safety of both drivers and passengers.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.