Ross Giblin / Stuff
Wellington’s largest university, and the capital’s second largest employer, is the first university to support a national campaign for free public transport tariffs. (File photo)
Wellington’s second largest employer is the first university to support a national campaign for free public transport tariffs.
Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington joins dozens of other organizations in the Aotearoa Collective for Public Transport Equity, calling for free public transport nationwide for under-25s, tertiary students and community services cardholders.
The collective formed in October from a former Pōneke Collective for Public Transport Equity, which urged the central government for a nationwide change to public transport tariffs.
Student Association (VUWSA) campaign officer and Aotearoa Collective coordinator, Hana Pilkinton-Ching, said there are now more than 60 organizations in the collective, up from 40 in November.
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Jerigo Rock Archer / Stuff
Hana Pilkinton-Ching says free rates will benefit the university by bringing more students to campus, which enhances the sense of community and well-being. (File photo)
Free rates benefited the university by allowing more students to reach campus, which increased the sense of community and well-being.
“It specifically offers more access to groups that face financial barriers to getting to university,” she said, referring to students living outside the town due to rising living costs who have to pay more for public transportation.
“Hopefully it’s just a matter of time until all the universities are on board.”
TOOD NIALL / GOED
Transport Minister Michael Wood speaks on the first day of half-price public transport tariffs.
Half-price tariffs were introduced nationally in March and increased the use of public transport across the country. In Budget 2022, the government provided funding to continue half-price tariffs until 31 August (permanent for holders of community service cards).
The university’s sustainability director Andrew Wilks said it would be good for everyone. “It enables students to live in a place that is affordable for them, while enabling them to travel to study.”
Supply
Victoria University of Wellington, director of sustainability, Andrew Wilks, says the university is happy to support the campaign. (File photo)
The university has aimed to reach net zero carbon by 2030 and reducing the environmental cost of transportation will play a role in this.
The university joins student associations, including Victoria’s, various boards and dozens of charities, to support the campaign.
Daran Ponter, chairman of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, said the council, which would be in charge of implementing a free tariff scheme, would give the central government the green light, support anything that encourages mode shifting and has a mode shifting goal of 40% by 2030.
MONIQUE FORD / Stuff
Half-price fares have been in place since March, causing more people to use public transport, especially on weekends. (File photo)
The council has proposed its own measures to encourage this, from tariff restrictions (so that people do not pay more than a maximum amount of fares each week, regardless of their travels), lower fares on weekends and children driving for free.
Although difficult to judge – the city was far from business as usual due to Covid-19 – the half-price tariffs caused an increase, mostly during the weekends, in public transport users.