Passenger Numbers Up, Revenue Down For ORC's Public Transport
For the first three quarters of the current financial year – covering from July 2024 to March 2025 – Dunedin passenger numbers rose by 4% to 2,611,577 trips and in Queenstown rose by 3% to 1,489,729 trips, says ORC's General Manager Regional and Planning Transport, Anita Dawe.
'We are really pleased that we continue to see a steady increase in patronage, especially as the removal of subsidies can create challenges for our public transport community. We're also seeing more older and younger people using our buses, especially on the Dunedin network,' she says.
Fare revenue in Dunedin for the three quarters was down 8% to $3.11 million while in Queenstown revenue for the same period declined 6% to $2.42 million, Ms Dawe says.
Using Dunedin as an example, Ms Dawe says in the six months to December 2023, there were 1.67 million passengers and the NZTA subsidy for that period was $602,819.
However, for the six months to December 2024, there were 1.73 million Dunedin passengers, but the NZTA subsidy reduced by more than $443,000, to $159,069.
The subsidy reductions are across public transport services around the country.
Ms Dawe noted numerous NZTA subsidies ended in April 2024, including for free child (5-12), youth (13-18) and Youth Plus (19-25).
She predicted that for the full year overall Otago bus patronage numbers will exceed the previous year, while year-on-year percentage growth will be lower because 2023-24 had a 'very high rate of growth' to better, she says.
The Public Transport patronage and revenue data is being presented to ORC's Public and Active Transport Committee next Thursday (5 June) for noting. The full Agenda and report is now online, under Meetings on www.orc.govt.nz.
The Queenstown ferry operation saw a 6% decline in patronage to 55,829 passengers for the three- quarter period,while revenue was down 3% to $618, 984.
Mrs Dawe notes the impact on the ferry revenue after its return to full fares was more keenly felt in dollar terms than on the bus services.
On Total Mobility patronage, there was a 17% increase in patronage for the three-quarter period, rising to a total 105,996 trips. The trip costs are shared between the passenger, ratepayer and taxpayer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Buses to replace Hutt off-peak trains for next four months
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Trains will be replaced by buses during most weekday off peak services in the Hutt Valley for the next four months to do rail upgrades. More than $143 million was allocated in Budget 2025 for rail renewals in Auckland and Wellington. In the Hutt Valley that money was set to be put to work from 4 August to 27 November to replace tracks on the line that runs between Upper Hutt and Wellington. Morning and evening peak service would not be affected, but off-peak trains between 9:30am and 2:30pm Hutt Valley and Melling lines were to be replaced by buses most days during the four month period. It would also mean Wairarapa line services would be bus replaced between Upper Hutt and Wellington. The work included replacing large sections of sleepers, rail line and repairing the Ava Bridge. Greater Wellington Regional Council acting chair Adrienne Staples was pleased rail upgrades were being carried out before construction of the Melling interchange begins in December. "With significant disruption expected on State Highway 2 during the construction of the Melling interchange, it will be crucial for passengers to have reliable rail services into Wellington city." Metlink senior manager of operations, Paul Tawharu, said the timing of the upcoming works was designed to reduce disruption for most passengers. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
a day ago
- 1News
DOC defends parking charges at Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
The Conservation Department is defending its plan to charge for parking at Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks and other tourist hotspots in National Parks. DOC is about to trial paid parking in its carpark next to the new Punangairi Visitor Centre in Punakaiki, and at Franz Josef and Aoraki Mt Cook. Punakaiki café owner Grant Parrett has objected, telling the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board this month that DOC would be effectively charging people to visit a National Park. But DOC's senior project manager John Dore said the parking charges would not contravene the National Parks Act. "The Conservation Act 1987 allows for charging fair and reasonable fees for the use of facilities within conservation areas, which includes DOC car parks, backcountry huts, and campsites." ADVERTISEMENT Charging for carparks was common practice in National Parks around the world, Dore said. "It's considered a practical way for visitors to contribute to the facilities and nature they enjoy… it can also help manage demand and improve safety.' Parrett said Dolomite Point, the location of the Pancake Rocks and the visitor centre, was a special case. The carpark can get busy in the summer months. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) "It's on State Highway 6, the Coast Road, and people like to stop off there on a long drive and stretch their legs. But, if you force them to use the DOC carpark, you're effectively charging them an entry fee to the National Park." Until a couple of months ago, there were 12 free car park spaces on the side of the highway heading north, but they had since been removed, Parrett said. NZTA Waka Kotahi has confirmed the removal of the parks last month was initiated by DOC, as a part of the Dolomite Point redevelopment. ADVERTISEMENT "DOC completed a traffic safety assessment in 2020 which, in conjunction with the development of parking facilities off the state highway, recommended the removal of the on-road state highway parking to improve safety. "NZTA endorsed the recommendations of this assessment in 2022," a spokesperson told LDR. NZTA had assessed the 12 roadside parks in the context of the new visitor centre development, and concluded that removing them would improve safety for all road users, especially pedestrians, a spokesperson said. It meant fewer people would be crossing the road to get to their cars, giving drivers better visibility of people on the pedestrian crossing between the visitor centre and the Pancake Rocks track, NZTA said. But Parrett said the speed limit through the area was 40km/h and the roadside parks had not been considered a safety risk in the past. "Fair enough, remove them if you're going to offer free parking on the other side but they're not. It's pretty poor because those free parks allowed 12 West Coast locals or other New Zealanders to pull up and just go for a walk around the rocks. "You're not going to go to the visitor centre every time you pass through." ADVERTISEMENT Parrett said the issue was fairness rather than safety. Punakaiki café owner Grant Parrett says DOC is effectively charging people to visit a National Park. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) People would not be able to visit the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes without paying, he said. "That makes it a quasi-entry fee to a National Park. Sure, if you can manage a 20-minute walk you could find a free park down the road. But you shouldn't have to. DOC should not have a monopoly on parking," Parrett said. NZTA Waka Kotahi said the paid parking trial did "alter the parking environment" in Punakaiki, but the recommendations of the traffic safety assessment did not change because of that. "If the paid parking trial does contribute to unsafe operating conditions on the state highway, we would expect DOC to address this," the NZTA spokesperson said. By Lois Williams, LDR Reporter ADVERTISEMENT Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Transporting New Zealand Releases "How-To" HPMV Permitting Videos
Over the last 15 years or so, High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs) have become more visible on New Zealand roads. They are heavier, longer, and - surprisingly for some - more efficient, safer, and greener. HPMV's increased freight capacity reduces the number of required vehicle trips, resulting in emission reductions, reduced congestion, and reduced accident risk ( Report to the Ministry of Transport, 2015). HPMVs also pay significantly higher rates of Road User Charges than other heavy vehicles, based on their impact on the pavement. This ensures they contribute proportionally to road maintenance and improvement. HPMVs operate under permits issued by NZTA and local councils, on roads and bridges that can accommodate the additional mass and length of the larger vehicles. NZTA processed 7,000 heavy vehicle permits in 2023. Unfortunately for road freight companies and their customers, applying for a HPMV permit can be a complicated process. This includes navigating NZTA's permitting portal, carefully measuring the vehicle, entering the data correctly, and then waiting for the permit to be granted. In response to member feedback, Transporting New Zealand has produced a series of three "How-To" videos, presented by Membership Manager Jim Crouchley. "Many operators find it difficult to know where to start with the HPMV process and no one really knows who to call to help." says Jim. "We wanted to show how to start the process, and what operators will need to have in front of them to complete the task. The ability to pause the video and work through the stages should be helpful for people who only do this process from time to time." "These guides show operators how to register their business on the NZTA permitting portal, measure a vehicle when applying for a permit, and upload a permit application to NZTA." Transporting New Zealand has shared the first of the three videos, with the remaining two guides available to members through their membership portal. Reforms boosting freight productivity In addition to providing educational resources, Transporting New Zealand has consistently advocated for the Government to simplify permitting processes and get more efficient trucks on the road. Transport Minister Chris Bishop recently announced a comprehensive reform of New Zealand's land transport rules, that provide an excellent opportunity to facilitate such improvements. Transporting New Zealand has been providing feedback to regulators on how to unlock greater productivity, and continues to work with government officials.
