New regional strategy proposed for Wellington transport

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

A new strategy aligning public transport improvements with urban development has been proposed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

After hearing submissions on the Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-35 for two-days, the council’s Transport Committee chairperson Thomas Nash said there was clear demand to expand Metlink services in growth areas such as Wairarapa.

This aspiration, Nash said, was not supported by current government funding.

“Bus patronage continues to surpass record levels while train patronage is being driven down by underinvestment in the rail network,” Nash said.

“With fast-tracked housing projects accelerating population growth projections, it’s essential public transport receives appropriate investment to meet forecast demand.”

Under the Government’s new constrained public transport settings, Nash said, it would be “nearly impossible” to increase affordable Metlink services within council means and without cutting other services.

Therefore, Greater Wellington’s new strategy would “empower [the council] to explore additional funding mechanisms”.

This would include a development levy and congestion charging, with the goal of securing investment in public transport infrastructure, while incentivising cost-effective land use and urban development.

Wairarapa councillor Adrienne Staples said urgent action was required to improve Wairarapa Rail Line operations and assets, and this would need to be reflected within the transport plan.

Staples’ comments were acknowledged by the committee, echoing the immense frustration expressed in submissions on the line’s performance.

Submissions to the transport plan from close to 70 Wairarapa residents revealed overall dissatisfaction with Metlink’s services in the region, calling the line’s performance “extremely unreliable” and “increasingly more expensive for a subpar service”.

Other service improvements proposed by the committee included increasing the frequency of buses to Hutt Hospital from Wainuiomata, boosting inter-regional bus services to Levin, and potential new railway stations in Kāpiti, Horowhenua and the Hutt Valley.

The committee also supported shorter time frames for phasing out of onboard cash payments for rail services.

Council chairperson Daran Ponter addressed a draft proposal for paid parking at railway station Park and Rides, which submitters had momentarily rejected.

“We’ll keep working on the Park and Ride demand management proposal and look to align it with the introduction of fully integrated ticketing and congestion charging, once rail patronage stabilises,” he said.

Ponter also addressed concerns from Metlink staff and the disabled community that small animals accompanying rail passengers could be disruptive to disability service dogs

At present, Ponter said, the committee considered the current rules around bringing small pets on trains were “adequate”. Pets are welcome on Metlink rail services, provided they are fully enclosed in a suitable pet carrier.

Greater Wellington Regional Council would consider the committee’s recommendations on June 26.