Greater Christchurch fare structure - zones
We propose to move to a 2-zone or 3-zone fare structure.
This proposal affects people in:
- Christchurch
- Selwyn
- Waimakariri
What's the future of our bus zones?
Since July 2023 our buses have been running with a flat-fare structure – just the one zone across our whole Greater Christchurch network.
This structure has made it easy to use our buses and the low cost has gone some way to getting more people on them. When our network is fully utilised, we all benefit from an improved (lower emissions) environment, reduced congestion, and more people can access the services they need such as work, education and leisure.
Our proposal
The flat-fare structure started as a two-year trial and Council has now agreed to continue the trial until February 2026. A zone structure then needs to be introduced.
The reality of increasing costs of running the public transport service and central government expectations to increase private revenue mean that our simple, low-cost flat-fare system can’t be sustained in the long term. We now need to decide how many zones we should move to. There is no impact on rates for either option because the zone fare structure only impacts people who use the bus.
Have a read about the options and then tell us what you think before 5pm 3 April 2025.
As we prepare our Annual Plan for 2025/26, we also want to hear what you think about:
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2-zone fare structure
This structure would see adult bus travel within a district cost $3.
Travel between districts (e.g. Rolleston to Christchurch city) would be $4. For example, bus journeys within the Christchurch district boundary would be $3 when a customer tags off, or less if a customer has a concession.
A trip completed within Selwyn or Waimakariri (e.g. from Rangiora to Kaiapoi) would also be $3 when they tag off, or less with a concession. But if you were travelling from Rolleston or Rangiora into Christchurch city, the fare would be $4, or less if a customer has a concession, because you would cross into another zone.
Maintaining a simple fare structure
This fare structure maintains the simplicity of consistent fares for the most common trips on the Metro network (travel within Christchurch) and limited added complexity, with the higher fare generally being associated with longer trips.
As with the current flat fare, the structure would include a higher price for ferry travel ($5).
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3-zone fare structure
This approach is reverting to the zone structure we had in place before the fare trial.
This fare structure would see bus travel within a district cost $3, zone two (over a boundary) $4 and zone 3 (over two boundaries) $6. The Diamond Harbour ferry would cost $5.
As you can see, different fares would be charged depending on how many zone boundaries are crossed in the trip.
As with the 2-zone fare structure, a trip within the Christchurch district boundary would be $3, or less if a customer has a concession. A trip completed within Selwyn or Waimakariri (e.g. from Rangiora to Kaiapoi) would also be $3 or less.
A trip from Lincoln to Christchurch city would be $4 and a trip from Darfield to Christchurch city would cost $6.
More choice for bus users
This fare structure adds more variety and options, and charges those customers travelling the furthest on our network the most, to go some way to cover the cost of delivering such a service.
