Agenda of Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party

21 July 2025

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party Agenda

Meeting to be held in the Council Chamber, 35 Walton Street, Whangarei

on Monday 21 July 2025, commencing at 9:00 am - 10:00am

Please note: working parties and working groups carry NO formal decision-making delegations from council. The purpose of the working party/group is to carry out preparatory work and discussions prior to taking matters to the full council for formal consideration and decision-making. Working party/group meetings are open to the public to attend (unless there are specific grounds under LGOIMA for the public to be excluded).

MEMBERSHIP OF THE Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party

Chairperson, Councillor Rick Stolwerk

NRC Councillor Jack Craw	WDC Councillor, Scott McKenzie	WDC Councillor, Simon Reid
WDC Councillor, Carol Peters	NRC Councillor, Joe Carr

RĪMITI (Item) Page

1.0 Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping

2.0 Ngā Whakapahā/apologies

3.0 Ngā Whakapuakanga/declarations of conflicts of interest

4.0 Ngā Whakaae Miniti / Confirmation of Minutes

4.1 Confirmation of Minutes - 11 February 2025 3

5.0 Receipt of Action Sheet

5.1 Receipt of Action Sheet 7

6.0 Reports

6.1 Operational Report 9

6.2 Hikurangi Service 12

6.3 Update on progress on Kamo/Whangarei T2 Lane 14

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party item: 6.1

21 July 2025

TITLE:	Operational Report
From:	Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Louisa Gritt, Group Manager - Community Resilience, on 19 June 2025

Executive summary

This report provides an update to the Whangarei District Council/Northland Regional Council Public Transport Working Group (WPTWG) on the various Whangarei passenger transport services in operation and projects being undertaken since the last meeting of 11 February 2025.

Recommendation

That the report ‘Operational Report’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council and dated 18 June 2025, be received.

Background

CityLink and SchoolLink Services

All services operated with no serious disruptions reported. The number of passengers carried has shown a very gradual increase when compared to the same period last year.

Services along Matai Street in Otangarei are yet to be re-instated. Staff will be meeting with the bus operator during the month of May 2025 to discuss and compile a re-entry plan.

Whilst driver numbers have gradually improved, there has recently been a sudden increase in sick leave which is not uncommon for this time of year. Missed trips are continually being reported through the CityLink Facebook page.

Fares Increase - Update

The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024 (GPS) directs Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) to increase private share revenue on all contracted bus services. This aims to manage rising public transport costs while easing the financial burden on taxpayers and ratepayers.

The NZTA set specific private revenue targets for the financial years 2024/25 to 2026/27. These targets encompass all contracted passenger services in Northland. Staff engaged with NZTA through multiple meetings to discuss these targets which were reduced and set at: -

o 2024/25 – Align with approved budget.

o 2025/26 – 18%

o 2026/27 – 19%

A paper was presented to the Northland Regional Council (NRC) March 2025 meeting detailing events to date and recommending the following fare increase to meet the targets set. This increase to be: -

· CityLink Service: Restore fares to pre-2018 levels to recover revenue lost due to discounted fares introduced during the Bee Card transition.

o Adult:

§ Present = $2.00

§ New Fare = $3.00

o Child:

§ Present = $1.00

§ New Fare = $2.00

· Hikurangi and Bream Bay Link Services: Fares have remained unchanged since their inception. It was recommended that these fares be increased by $0.50c per trip.

The NRC approved the recommended fares increase but requested that staff attempt to find any means to mitigate the fares increase. This was done but no suitable sources of additional income sufficient to offset and/or mitigate a fares increase were found. These were covered in detail at a council workshop on 13 May 2025.

The proposed implementation date for the fares increase is 1 August 2025. (This is the earliest date that ticketing machines can be programmed with the new fares.

National Ticketing System (NTS)

Whilst no formal information has been provided, there may well be a further delay in the implementation of the NTS due to programme related issues being encountered during the testing phase. There is a possibility that the rollout in Northland could now move to late 2026/early 2027.

In the interim, INNIT, the company running the Bee Cards will continue to operate as normal.

Bike Racks

At the time of compiling this report, Ritchie’s have confirmed they have now received all the additional light fittings to ensure the CityLink buses will be compliant. Work has commenced on fitting these. Council is awaiting confirmation of a date when bicycles can be carried safely on all CityLink buses.

Rose Street Bus Terminus - Update

The Whangarei District Council have advised that a “soft opening” is scheduled for the start of July 2025. However, there is potential for a delay in receipt of the steel required to complete the project.

To date, the toilet block and widened path from Rose Street Vine Street is almost complete. Tree planting has commenced along the new walkway leading from the terminus to Vine Street.

NRC and WDC staff are in the process of reviewing bus stop signage at Rose Street. It is planned to use the route identity colour coding as utilised in the timetables to further assist passengers in identifying the correct boarding point.

Regional Public Transport Plan

The draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2025 (RPTP) has been completed. A copy of the draft has been forwarded to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for their input and to ensure that staff have followed the correct process.

On receipt of feedback from NZTA, a copy of the draft RPTP will be forwarded to the Regional Transport Committee for consideration and approval for release for public consultation.

The timeline for this project can only be finalised when NZTA have completed their review of the document.

As done in the past, permission will be sought to allow members of the WPTWG internet access to the draft RPTP to allow input into the document.

Total Mobility

The number of clients trips taken since the last meeting has, for the first time since the increase in national subsidies, started to even off. This contrasts with the continuing increase in trips taken and expenditure utilised.

Whitelisting Project: - The new Total Mobility” Whitelisting “process went live on Wednesday 28 May 2025. This new process electrically validates the authenticity of the Total Mobility cards and ensures they are both active and valid. This also means that all TM clients must present their card at the beginning of each trip. Any cards ordered after 28 May 2028 that have been cancelled for any reason will be shown as invalid. The Total Mobility client will have to contact the Transport Team to order a new card. The current service providers technology presently does not have this capability. This new process will assist in eliminating fraud and afford council increased control over the Northland TM scheme and its budgets.

Total Mobility Scheme Review: - The Terms of Reference for the review was developed in consultation with key Total Mobility stakeholders and has four key parts:

1. The purpose of Total Mobility

2. How the Total Mobility Scheme can be more accessible for disabled people

3. How aspects of the Total Mobility Scheme’s operations can be improved

4. Funding mechanisms for the Total Mobility Scheme

This review is led by the Ministry of Transport.

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party item: 6.2

21 July 2025

TITLE:	Hikurangi Service
From:	Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Louisa Gritt, Group Manager - Community Resilience, on 19 June 2025

Executive summary

Following four years of operation and numerous attempts by staff to promote and enhance the service, the Hikurangi Link Bus Service has failed to attract sufficient passenger numbers to continue operation in its present form.

This paper serves to update the Joint Whangarei District Council/Northland Regional Council Whangarei Public Transport Working Group (WPTWG) on the planned reduction in the Hikurangi Link Bus Service.

Recommendation

That the report ‘Hikurangi Service ’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council and dated 18 June 2025, be received.

Background

Original Hikurangi Bus Service

In late 2002/early 2003 the Northland Regional Council (NRC) was approached to operate a service between Hikurangi and Whangarei. Following consultation with the community of Hikurangi, a twice-a-week subsidised service commenced on 3 June 2003.

Despite route extensions and extensive marketing and advertising, patronage remained low, and the service was eventually withdrawn.

Re-introduced Hikurangi Bus Service

On 1 November 2020, at the request of the Joint WDC/NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Group (WPTWG) Elected Representatives, NRC introduced a Thursday-only service operating between Hikurangi and Whangarei.

This service was supported by the Hikurangi community and commercial sectors, wanting to provide transport for financially disadvantaged residents needing to access Whangarei for medical, shopping, and social needs. It was named the Hikurangi Link Service.

Passenger numbers remained below expectations. After further discussions with Hikurangi representatives, NRC added a Tuesday service from 1 July 2023 to encourage greater use of the service. However, there has been no increase in patronage. Passenger numbers per trip to date are: -

· 2020/2021 = 3

· 2021/2022 = 2

· 2022/2023 = 2

· 2023/2024 = 2

· 2024/2025 = 2

At the Joint WDC/NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Group meeting on 11 February 2025, it was agreed that staff would recommend: -

1. That, after a three-month notice period and no increase in passenger numbers, the service be reduced to once weekly (Thursdays only).

2. If numbers do not increase in the following six months, and after a further three-month notice period, the service be discontinued.

During the 2023/2024 financial year, The Hikurangi Community Trust, with funding assistance from the NRC, established an on-demand transport service. This service does not overlap with the Hikurangi Link’s times or routes. Passengers affected by changes to the Hikurangi Link may use this alternative.

Paper to Northland Regional Council Meeting

A paper based on the same lines as this report will be presented to the June 2025 Council meeting with the following recommendations: -

1. That the Northland Regional Council approve that, following a three month notice period with there being no increase in passenger numbers, the present twice-weekly Hikurangi Link Service be reduced to once a week, operating on Thursdays only.

2. That if passenger numbers fail to increase for the six-month period following the reduction in service, the Northland Regional Council approve that, following a three-month notice period with no increase in passenger numbers, the Hikurangi Link service be discontinued.

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party item: 6.3

21 July 2025

TITLE:	Update on progress on Kamo/Whangarei T2 Lane
From:	Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Louisa Gritt, Group Manager - Community Resilience, on 19 June 2025

Executive summary

This paper updates the Joint Whangarei District Council/Northland Regional Council Whangarei Passenger Transport Working Group on the progress made in regard to the Kamo to Whangarei T2 Lane.

Laura Devcich, representing the Whangarei District Council will be presenting on this paper.

Recommendation

That the report ‘Update on progress on Kamo/Whangarei T2 Lane’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council and dated 18 June 2025, be received.

Background/Tuhinga

Regular updates on the progress of the new Rose Street Bus Terminus have been provided to the Joint Whangarei District Council/Northland Regional Council Whangarei Passenger Transport Working Group (WPTWG) since inception of the project.

Laura Devcich, representing the Whangarei District Council, will do a presentation to the WPTWG on progress to date, what is still to be completed and will be available to answer questions on this project.

See Attachment I for a copy of the “Kamo Priority Lane Update” and Attachment II, the supporting PowerPoint presentation tilted “Kamo Priority Lane Briefing” tabled at the Whangarei District Council meeting on Thursday 15 May 2025.

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Kamo T2 Lane Update ⇩

Attachment 2: Kamo T2 Lane Presentation ⇩

TITLE:	Confirmation of Minutes - 11 February 2025
From:	Haylee Labelle, Personal Assistant Community Resilience
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Louisa Gritt, Group Manager - Community Resilience, on 19 June 2025

TITLE:	Receipt of Action Sheet
From:	Haylee Labelle, Personal Assistant Community Resilience
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Louisa Gritt, Group Manager - Community Resilience, on 19 June 2025