Cheaper public transport fares coming
Update 18 May 2023:
You may have heard about the upcoming changes to public transport fares as part of the government's 2023 budget announcement. Our team is currently working through the details to understand potential timings around implementation for these.
Stay tuned for an update on all the exciting changes to Greater Christchurch fares, with the first changes to be introduced from 1 July!
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An exciting new fare structure is on the horizon for all Metro customers. From next year, catching the bus around Greater Christchurch will be getting cheaper for EVERYONE.
On Thursday 16 June 2022, Environment Canterbury councillors met to adopt the regional council's 2022/23 Annual Plan, which includes a two-year trial for much cheaper public transport in a bid to make it more accessible for people to travel in a way that reduces overall transport emissions and congestion in Greater Christchurch.
Exciting news for Metro customers
There is a lot of good news for Metro customers in the Annual Plan. From April 2023, Metrocard bus fares across the existing Zones 1, 2 and 3 will be $1 for:
- Anyone aged under 25
- Tertiary students
- Total Mobility card holders
- Community Services Card holders
For everyone else, a flat fare of $2 will be all you need to get anywhere by bus on our network when travelling with a Metrocard. This flat fare includes the outer services like Darfield, National Trade Academy etc.
Cash fares have also been reduced to $4 for a standard adult fare, and $2 for under 25s, tertiary students, and Total Mobility/Community Services Card holders.
Ferry customers
Diamond Harbour ferry customers will also be able to enjoy reduced fares from April, with an adult fare to cost $4, while discounted fares for the other groups listed above will be $2. If you're using cash on the ferry, these fares will be $6 and $3 for adult and discounted fares respectively.
Other exciting changes recently introduced
Tertiary student concession
In mid-July 2022 we introduced a new concession for students at participating tertiary institutes in Greater Christchurch. We are pleased to have been able to launch this in advance of the wider fare changes in February, and the initial concession will be equivalent to the current "child" fares which are around 40% lower than adult fares. Don't forget that the government's half-price discount for both adult and child fares is also in place until 31 March 2023!
To access the discount, students need to order a new Tertiary Student Metrocard from their tertiary provider, which would be then collected on-campus. Visit metro.co.nz/tertiary for full details on the process, eligibility and participating organisations. Three of the largest tertiary institutions - University of Canterbury, Lincoln Uni and Ara - have this concession in place now, with more to come.
SuperGold card changes
SuperGold card holders no longer need to keep their eyes on the clock! From 1 July 2022 free travel with a SuperGold card was extended from 9am until the end of the day. As our way of saying "thank you" to seniors and veterans, SuperGold card holders travel for free on all Metro bus and ferry services after 9am weekdays and any time during weekends and public holidays. Simply show the driver your SuperGold card when boarding and enjoy the free ride.
Encouraging more people to give the bus a go
Councillors have heard the repeated calls from our community to make it easier for people to choose to travel using public transport, and these reduced fares will provide an incentive for people to give the bus a go. Driving is the single largest contributor to Christchurch's carbon emissions, so encouraging more people to use public transport is one way we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from transport and lead to less congestion on our roads.