Coalition Government Prioritizing Motorways Over Essential Public Transport
'Free Fares calls on the government to prioritise Vote Transport money towards accessible public transport for those who most need it. Free Fares calls for quality free public transport for students, under 25s, Community Service Card holders, Total Mobility Card holders and their support people,' says Free Fares spokesperson Patrick O'Connor.
'Communities are at the mercy of the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis. Public transport is the best sustainable solution to these problems. Building more roads will not improve traffic for commuters. Less investment in public transport will mean more cars, and therefore more traffic jams and congestion.
'In comparison, buses and trains take far less space and move far more people. A quality and affordable public transport system has the potential to both greatly reduce traffic woes and carbon emissions.'
At the same time as 15 motorways are being built the NZTA intends to increase the 'private share of public transport operating expenditure'. This pushes councils to increase bus and train fares. This will push more costs onto working people, making daily life more difficult for already struggling New Zealanders. Many Transport Authorities have told NZTA this is not realistic. Free Fares NZ and 6000 others recently petitioned the government against the private share fare hikes.
'Free Fares advocates for community needs over the self-interests of profit' O'Connor explains. 'Public transport is a long-term investment. It increases accessibility for people to benefit from education and the labour force, which in turn allows them to contribute to the productivity and innovation of society in the long-term.'
Notes:
Free Fares NZ is a coalition of over 100 organisations across Aotearoa, including local councils, LGNZ, climate justice organisations, churches, anti-poverty groups, trade unions, student associations and various other community organisations. We call on the government to subsidise half-price public transport for everyone, as well as free transport for students, under 25s, Community Service card holders, and Total Mobility card holders along with their support people. Free Fares have been successful so far in securing permanent half-price fees for Community Service cardholers.
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She said occasionally illegal drugs were smuggled into residences, 'but no, a significant meth use has not been raised with me'. Oranga Tamariki runs the facilities. Photo / Jason Oxenham Prime told the Herald the information was provided by a 'trusted source'. 'I asked these questions within the context of the minister's statement last year claiming she was confident that young people in facilities were now safe and that those issues were no longer happening. 'This year's Budget then went on to pledge millions for critical safety risks – raising questions about what issues they were addressing. Abuse has been well documented in the history of these facilities, and any concerns that it is continuing must be taken seriously." Prime said, 'We need every confidence that history isn't repeating itself in state care.' Children's Cmmr unaware of meth, fight clubs Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad said she took a close interest in the treatment of children in residences, especially given previous concerns relating to their treatment at Korowai Manaaki. A report by the commission's monitoring team stemming from a visit in February last year found instances there of fighting as well as illegal substances, such as cannabis. However, through the monitoring process, 'we have not been made aware of methamphetamine use in youth justice residences, and we have not heard about fight clubs since the leaked footage reported in 2023'. Video footage in July 2023 showed MMA-style fighting taking place in a youth justice residence. Staff were stood down after the video went public. Iain Chapman, acting deputy chief executive for Oranga Tamariki's Youth Justice Services and Residential Care, confirmed the agency was 'not aware of any recent incidents relating to significant methamphetamine use or fight clubs within our youth justice facilities'. 'The health, safety and wellbeing of rangatahi in our residences is a constant focus for Oranga Tamariki and we have significant work under way to enhance operational security in these spaces. 'We would encourage anyone with any information about harm to young people in residences to contact Oranga Tamariki or New Zealand Police.' The letters come after the Herald revealed last week that Prime ignored and then flat-out declined invitations by Education Minister Erica Stanford about NCEA reform despite Labour calling for cross-party consultation. Prime has since said she could have responded to Stanford to explain why she wasn't taking up the offers, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins has said his MP has 'learned a lot' from the episode. Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. In 2025, he was a finalist for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.
