17357 (2026). Chlöe Swarbrick to the Minister of Transport

17357 (2026). Chlöe Swarbrick to the Minister of Transport: Has he asked officials for advice on making public transport more affordable in light of the current fuel crisis, and if not, why not?

Hon Chris Bishop: The government already subsidises public transport services (over $600m per year in funding from the National Land Transport Fund). Any consideration of further public transport subsidies would need to fit the criteria we are applying for any cost-of-living support with higher fuel prices: targeted, timely and temporary. Broad fare subsidies would not be targeted to those who most need the support. It also risks patronage increases beyond what the network can currently accommodate at peak times.