Greens eye free, fast and reliable public transport with election promises
The New Zealand Green Party has announced a transport policy aimed at reducing living costs and carbon emissions. The plan includes free public transport for specific groups, capped fares for others, and significant infrastructure investments in rail and bus services.
Why it matters
This policy highlights the ongoing political debate regarding climate change mitigation and the cost-of-living crisis in New Zealand.
The Green Party has pledged to make public transport free for eligible groups and cap bus and train fares at $2 for everyone else.
It says its transport plan offers fast, frequent and affordable services.
Under the Greens' policy, public transport would be free for children, students, apprentices, Community Service Card holders and Total Mobility users, while everyone else would pay a maximum fare of $2.
It would also build mass rapid bus and light rail services in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, offer more frequent inter-regional bus services, strengthen rural bus services and allow councils to pedestrianise more inner-city areas and increase safe walking and biking spaces.
The party has also promised overnight passenger trains from Auckland to Wellington, as well as bringing back the Southerner between Christchurch and Dunedin and extending Te Huia to Tauranga .
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