Greens pledge free buses and trains for children and students, and a $2 cap on adult fares
The Greens unveiled a public transport policy on 4 October (1News, ODT, interest.co.nz, RNZ). Buses and trains would be free for children, students, Community Service Card holders and Total Mobility users, with adult fares capped at $2 a journey. The Parliamentary Library costed fares at $262 million in 2027/28, rising to $381 million by 2030/31. The party also set aside up to $13.65 billion for light rail or bus rapid transit in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and would add an overnight Auckland-Wellington train. Reports differ on age cut-offs and ferries are not mentioned.
Petrol prices are high and household costs are a leading election issue, so cheaper transport is a direct bid for voters.
If you ride a bus or train regularly, a $2 cap would cut costs a lot, but nothing changes unless the Greens are in government and win the policy in negotiations.
Supporters say cheap fares cut congestion and cost of living at once.
Critics say fare cuts without more services help only where buses already run, and the light rail figure is a ceiling not a plan.
Fares are the cheap part of this policy; the $13.65b is the real bill. Watch how much of it the Greens would insist on in coalition talks.
DailyDrop New Zealand edition No. 1 · Morning · MON., OCT. 5, 2026