A potential fare increase and a reduction in off-peak discounts for Metlink services will be decided at the upcoming Greater Wellington Regional Council meeting on Thursday, 27 February. If approved, the changes could impact daily commuters and families in Tawa who rely on public transport.
The council is considering a 2.2% fare increase, alongside a 20% reduction in the off-peak Snapper card discount. The review aims to align ticket prices with inflation and operational costs while balancing contributions from passengers, ratepayers, and the government.
Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Thomas Nash said the fare increase is necessary to maintain a fair cost-sharing model.
“Bearing in mind our fiscal constraints, we have no choice but to increase fares to keep up with inflation and operational costs. We are also mindful of keeping rates increases affordable for everyone,” Nash said.
The reduction in off-peak discounts has drawn concern, with Nash citing government funding cuts as a key factor.
“I don’t want to lower the discount for off-peak fares, but government plans to reduce its share of funding to public transport give us no choice. An off-peak discount of 30% still makes a difference for people in our community who travel at different times, and Metlink remains one of the only transport providers in the country with an off-peak discount,” he said.
For Tawa residents, this could mean higher costs for both peak and off-peak travel into Wellington or Porirua. While specific fare increases for Tawa were not detailed, similar routes such as Karori to Wellington would see off-peak fares rise from $2.22 to $3.17, while peak fares remain at $4.53.
Metlink’s senior manager of strategy and investments, Tim Shackleton, said the organisation is working with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to balance affordability and efficiency.
“Last year the Government set the direction to increase public transport revenue from non-government sources, and we are working with NZTA to set achievable funding targets from fares and third-party revenues such as advertising,” Shackleton said.
Metlink’s advertising revenue has tripled over the past four years, but fare increases remain part of the funding equation.
If approved, the fare adjustments will take effect from 1 July 2025. SuperGold card holders will continue to travel for free during off-peak hours, and existing concession discounts will remain unchanged. However, off-peak discounts will not apply to ferry and Airport Express services.
For Tawa commuters, the changes could mean weighing up alternative travel options or adjusting travel times to make the most of remaining discounts.