‘Misinformed’: City Hall rails against Te Huia train fare hikes

Friday, 19 June 2026

Hamilton city leaders have hauled fellow regional decision-makers over the tracks, accusing them of a “breach of trust’’ around an unexpected 25% hike in Te Huia passenger fares.

It means it is now cheaper to get a bus between Rotokauri and Huntly than ride the train and WRC expects a 6.8% drop in patronage.

Fuel costs have driven a big rise in public transport use with rail revenue for the region council rising by $82,898 on last year.

That’s a 54% rise and has been swiftly followed by a regional council vote on June 3 approving a 25% fare hike on the Te Huia - Auckland to Hamilton - rail route.

But what really irks Hamilton City leaders is the way that decision was framed during the regional council’s meeting.

Members of HCC’s City Delivery Committee were staunch in keeping their distance on Thursday, saying the framing of the decision during a meeting of the regional council’s Public Transport Committee was “misinformed” when it gave the wrong impression that elected members had provided Hamilton City Council sign-off.

They did not give any official approval for the rise and made an official resolution noting their “disappointment’’ with the regional council’s decision, which will affect Hamiltonians as they make up 51% of the train’s patronage.

“The impact on patronage could be significant, affecting the final year of the five-year trial of this service, and its ability to continue meeting and exceeding targets, although the date from which the increased fares apply is unknown,’’ Councillor Sue Moroney said.

Moroney, who is a representative for the council on the regional council’s Public Transport Committee, explained that the regional council did not consult on the annual plan due to not meeting their significance engagement criteria because the fare raise would only result in an additional $30,000 in revenue - below the limit that would trigger public consultation.

However, the optics for WRC get even worse.

Moroney said it was “with some alarm’’ she discovered that an invitation to discuss a recommendation from the Transport Committee of the Waikato Regional Council at an informal meeting around a recommendation for a 10% increase to Te Huia fares, ”suddenly, and I think, without due process,’’ became a 25% increase.

Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe said he and three other Hamilton elected representatives accepted an invitation to speak informally with one regional councillor about the issue prior to the regional council’s meeting on the matter, and the Mayor left that meeting early.

“So there was no formal Hamilton Council position to report,’’ and his own position had been that fares might be raised to reduce the fare subsidies that Hamilton ratepayers are contributing, and then only at a level that would not affect patronage.

He was “surprised’’ to hear that the reporting of his personal opinion as a council position.

Graeme Mead was not so diplomatic, letting fly at the regional council.

“I was ticked off to be honest and for me to have an informal discussion that's then been tabled with another regional council, for me, it's not acceptable - it’s a breach of trust.’’

Councillor Jamie Strange says the regional council needs to “reconsider’’ its decision.

He points out the service now faced a double threat to its patronage.

Both from the “significant increase’’ in fares and the fact that diesel prices have been falling since the regional council made its decision.

“That in itself, in my opinion, is a reason for them to reconsider their decision.

“The second reason I encourage them to reconsider their decision is based around what we've heard from other speakers, in terms of, in terms of not receiving a view from Hamilton City Council as a formal collective view.’’

Te Huia fares were last increased by 11.4% on July 1, 2025.