Public transport in Waikato

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Public transport in Hamilton and the Waikato Region consists mainly of bus services, as well as some limited train and ferry services. Services are mainly infrequent, and investment hasn't been sufficient to compete with cars, so that subsidies, first introduced in 1971, have increased.

The 2021 Waikato Regional Transport Plan explained the small spend on public transport (7%) and walking/cycling (3%), saying that, although Government, "elevated climate change as a national strategic priority, the Government has not provided the funding to achieve the transformational change necessary to meet its climate change targets and expectations. Waka Kotahi states that 90% of anticipated revenue is committed to a significant programme of work already underway . . . There is therefore, extremely limited funding for new projects . . . to support mode shift and climate change transport activities, like cycling, walking and public transport initiatives."^[1]

So, although a Mass Transit Plan, aiming to increase public transport's share in Hamilton to 10%, by running services at 10 minute intervals, was to be developed in 2019,^[2] it has yet to be funded by Waka Kotahi.^[3] As the map shows, the coverage is sparse and even of those services which operate daily, most have only 2 or 3 buses a day in each direction. Only Hamilton urban services and those to Huntly run hourly, or more frequently. About 40% of passengers travelled on the two routes (Orbiter, Comet) which ran at 15 minute intervals.^[4] From Monday 21 February 2022, the less frequent Hamilton buses were cut to hourly, or 2-hourly, due to driver shortages.^[5]

The Te Huia commuter train started on 6 April 2021^[6] and runs 6 days a week to Auckland Strand.^[7] The only other remaining passenger train is the Northern Explorer.^[8]

Ferries remain at Whitianga^[9] and Tairua,^[10] but the Auckland-Coromandel ferry^[11] is suspended due to crew shortage.^[12]

On 19 July 2021, a ferry service began on the Waikato River,^[13] linking Swarbrick's Landing and Braithwaite Park with the museum and gardens.^[14] However, the operator went into liquidation in December 2022 and no ferries run in Hamilton.^[15]

Shuttle buses provide the only public transport to a number of places, including Hamilton Airport,^[16] Whitianga and Whangamatā.^[17]