The future of public transport in Canterbury was discussed at two separate meetings in Christchurch on Thursday. Photo: Environment Canterbury
From next week, prices on public transport around the country are going up - as councils try to meet a directive from the Government to pay more of the cost of delivering the services.
The Transport Agency has written to local councils, and transport authorities at the end of last year asking them to increase their private share, from tickets sales and advertising, rather than from rates or government funding.
Each council has negotiated with NZTA and worked out a price increase before putting that to ratepayers.
Fares will increase in Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury and Invercargill. Northland's bus fares are going up from the beginning of August.
The BayBus service around Tauranga and Bay of Plenty increased prices in April, while the Otago Regional Council has agreed to raise prices but it hasn't set out when that will happen.
In Canterbury the bus service has had a flat fee of $2 in a push to increase patronage, and the council pushed back on NZTA to keep prices moderate - they are going up to a flat fee of $3.
