Timaru’s on-demand public transport service to stay, ECan says

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Timaru’s on-demand public transport service MyWay has been made a permanent programme.

Timaru’s on-demand public transport service, MyWay, has been made permanent with a new contract paving the way for increased capacity for school and Temuka routes.

Environment Canterbury said the service, which was introduced as a trial in June 2020 and now formed part of its programme for public transport in Timaru, would stay.

“After a successful trial, we’re proud to make MyWay a permanent service for the Timaru community, and I want to acknowledge the Timaru community, our partners and both councillors and staff who worked hard to make this possible,” ECan chairperson, Craig Pauling, said.

ECan would retain trial operator Ritchies until 2032, after it had successfully tendered to provide public transport services in Timaru.

Craig Pauling says in addition to MyWay becoming permanent, ECan was able to increase capacity on the school and Temuka routes.

Pauling said in addition to MyWay becoming permanent, the council was also proud to confirm increased capacity on school and Temuka routes.

“The new contract gives us the ability to increase capacity on the school and Temuka routes and also comes at a decreased cost to our ratepayers,” he said.

Ritchies Transport chief executive officer Michele Kernahan said the fleet used by the company would be zero-emission, unless additional vehicles were required.

“MyWay is a great example of putting the customer first, of adapting a traditional model to the consumer’s needs, and we’re proud to have been chosen to continue the MyWay journey,” Kernahan said.

ECan councillor Joe Davies says the community had strongly supported MyWay.

Councillor Joe Davies said the community had strongly supported MyWay, which had reached an exciting milestone, recording the highest level of patronage for nearly a quarter of a century.

“We recorded almost 267,000 passenger trips in Timaru over the 2023-24 Financial Year, which is fantastic given where we were before MyWay was introduced,” Davies said.

The previous record was 263,000 trips recorded in the 2001-02 Financial Year.

Councillor Peter Scott said the service enabled people to get where they needed to easily, and on demand, which was something he was proud the council could provide for the community.

“This service has been popular due to its convenience and simplicity, and we are pleased that it can continue into the future,” Scott said.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank Timaru residents for their ongoing support which has helped make this service such a success.”