By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton has labelled the decision to scrap the combined Taumarunui-Hamilton Route 25 hospital shuttle/public transport service as “simply madness”.
He warns it comes at the worst possible time for communities already under pressure.
“It is simply madness to remove a successful service at a time when demand is increasing, and people need affordable transport more than ever.”
Kirton described the move as a “kick in the guts” for Taumarunui and surrounding communities that rely on the service.
Operated by BUSIT, Route 25 has functioned as a joint initiative between Te Whatu Ora Waikato and Waikato Regional Council, allowing spare seats on hospital shuttles to be used by public passengers.
The service will end on 26 June, with a smaller, health-only shuttle planned to replace it.
Public passengers will instead need to use InterCity bus services or make other arrangements.
Kirton said that while he supports improvements to hospital transport, removing the public component would have serious consequences.
“This service has become much more than a health shuttle. It is a vital public transport link for Taumarunui and the communities of Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga and Kihikihi.
“Removing the public transport option simply does not make sense and could not have come at a worse time amid an international fuel crisis and ongoing cost of living pressures. People are already doing it tough.”
Kirton said the service provides a convenient, reliable and cost-effective alternative that people rely on.
“For many, driving to Hamilton is simply not affordable.”
A key strength of the service was its same-day return, which Kirton said is critical for users. The InterCity service did not offer same-day return.
The Route 25 service departs Taumarunui before 8am, arrives in Hamilton around 10.30am, and returns at 3pm, giving passengers about four hours in the city before arriving home by 6pm.
“That same-day flexibility is critical,” he said.
“Whether it’s attending appointments, shopping, visiting whānau, or accessing services not available locally, the ability to travel to Hamilton and return the same day is hugely important.”
Kirton said the InterCity alternative makes a same-day return impossible, requiring an overnight stay and adding costs many cannot afford.
“At $56, a one-way adult fare on InterCity is more than double the $24 cost with a Bee Card on Route 25. Gold Card holders are free on Route 25 while they would pay $53 on InterCity. This highlights just how important this service is for affordability.”
Kirton said demand for the service was rising, with Taumarunui i-SITE staff reporting Bee Card enquiries had doubled in the past month as fuel prices climb.
“Rural New Zealand does not have the same access to public transport or the same ability to benefit from Gold Card schemes.
Kirton also raised concerns about the capacity of the proposed replacement shuttle.
“When I spoke to passengers this morning, there were already 18 hospital travellers booked, plus additional walk-ups and public transport users.
“If the replacement service is a 12-seater, as suggested, it won’t even meet current hospital demand.
“While some improvements or adjustments to the service may be needed, scrapping a well-used, growing inter-regional public transport link is the wrong decision.”
Kirton said concerns were shared by the Waikato Regional Transport Committee, whose chair had written to Waikato Regional Council seeking answers about the planned cancellation.
A Waikato Regional Council spokesperson said the move was necessary to better meet patient needs and ensure safety.
He said the Route 25 Taumarunui service was introduced in 2020 as a vital link for patients travelling long distances to Waikato Hospital for specialist care.
“Over time, an agreement was reached to allow members of the public to use spare seats while maintaining priority for patients. This created a combined public transport and health shuttle long-distance service,” he told Local Democracy Reporting.
The service is fully funded by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora, with fares collected from public passengers via the Bee Card system returned to the health agency.
Over the past two years, the organisations had each reviewed the effectiveness of the model.
“Feedback from health patients, iwi and community representatives has been clear that the current 40-seat bus is not well suited to people with health needs.”
Concerns were also raised about safety and the challenges of mixing general passengers with vulnerable health travellers on long-distance journeys.
In response, Health NZ had decided to withdraw funding from the current combined service and move to a dedicated health shuttle service.
A statement from the regional council acknowledged the impact but said alternatives were limited.
“While options such as enhancing the Te Kūiti Connector service have been explored, improvements are constrained under current funding arrangements through the New Zealand Transport Agency’s Low Cost / Low Risk programme for the 2024-2027 period.”
The statement said it was not in a position to introduce a replacement for the discontinued service and said there was “no scope” for immediate changes to existing public transport routes.
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