ECan’s Public Transport general manager Stewart Gibbon says the retaining of the under-25s concession was planned under the Christchurch City Council’s 2022/23 annual plan.
He says they're doing plenty to inform both parents and children of the changes, and that part of the other fees remaining low is because their flat fee trial has been successful.
“We are informing 5-12-year-olds and their caregivers of this government change through all the appropriate channels including with our media release, emails to schools, a newsletter to customers, information on our interchange screens and in-bus posters.
“We are extremely pleased with our flat fare trial which has now put our patronage back above pre-COVID levels and is on-track to record a post-earthquake patronage high."
Meanwhile, other public transport networks nationwide, including Wellington’s Metlink and Auckland’s Auckland Transport, are set to revert their under-25 fares back to their original price.
Greater Wellington Transport committee chair Thomas Nash has said he doesn't want to end the concessions, because he knows “they have made a big difference to people”.
But in terms of a city like Wellington, Nash says maintaining their network would be difficult if they kept the concessions, because of the “uncertainty around public transport funding from the new government.”
All this comes as the new government previously announced they’d be revoking free fees for kids and half price fares for under-25s, come May 1st.
Other New Zealanders who have a Community Services Card or are using Total Mobility services will still continue to see half price public transport as normal.
