Bad behaviour is said to be the reason a Taumarunui-Hamilton bus service is being cut, but the mayor’s not buying it.
By Jordan Smith, Local Democracy Reporter
The 40-seat shuttle does a daily round trip, taking not only hospital patients but also regular travellers if spare seats are available.
That will end on June 26 when it is replaced by a smaller, health-only shuttle - leaving no public transport that can get people to Hamilton and back in a day.
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton, who found out through a Facebook post, has fiercely contested the move. He’s now writing to the health minister and considering a petition to get the Route 25 service back.
However, Health NZ says patients wanted a dedicated service and the regional council says it will look at other transport options for Taumarunui.
Kirton said the reason for the cancellation boiled down to behavioural issues such members of the public “vaping and drinking” as well as accounts of abuse.
"It's not true or there's no evidence that it was the public causing the problem... nothing at all to only say that was the main motivation for them to review the situation,“ he said.
He added even if there was disruption, there wouldn't be a public service in the country that's exempt, questioning if the rationale was enough to pull the only daily return service to Hamilton.
"I think they should deal with behaviour issues rather than actually just assume by getting rid of the bus service that it's gonna solve all the problems."
Kirton added he has written to Health Minister Simeon Brown to help reinstate it, and if a "flaky sort of response" is given, a parliamentary petition will be next on the cards.
The shuttle currently arrives at Hamilton from Taumarunui at 10.30am before departing at 3pm for a 6pm return.
By comparison, the alternative InterCity service leaves Taumarunui at 2.40pm, while the return service departs Hamilton around 11.30am, making a same-day return impossible. Additionally, a one-way ride on the Intercity costs users $54, more than double the $24 fee on the shuttle, which Gold Card users ride for free.
Kirton described the shuttle as the only viable and affordable service for the community. He added the Intercity alternative is simply unrealistic and he isn't happy the health organisation is "fooling people" it's the right option.
"At the height of the fuel crisis people were obviously using public transport everywhere an this is no exception."
He further criticised the downsize of the medical shuttle, going from a 40 to 12-seat service, saying it’ll “probably be inadequate” for health needs.
"So it's been a downsizing from the health perspective and certainly eliminating the opportunity for people to get on there at affordable prices and subsidy... I think this is a beat up."
Te Whatu Ora’s regional projects funding office director - Midlands region Nicola Ehau said the shuttle has been “a useful option” for the community, but reiterated the service being a “dedicated health shuttle” for patients heading to Waikato Hospital.
She added the organisation had consulted with patients and stakeholders surrounding safety and “the bus not being suitable for transporting them to their appointment”.
“Our patients want a dedicated service better aligned to appointment times, more direct connection and suitable for patients using the service.”
“We believe the service we will run from 1 July 2026, will meet the needs of our Taumarunui patients, and that there is sufficient capacity to meet current demand.”
In a statement to the Waikato Times, Waikato Regional councillor Liz Stolwyk said council met with stakeholders such as Horizons Regional Council and Ruapehu, Ōtorohanga, and Waitomo district councils to discuss the impact on the communities affected.
She added the council will be meeting with Horizons Regional Council again to explore further transport options for Taumarunui.
It’ll include discussion of a potential future cross-boundary public transport service linking Taumarunui to Te Kūiti and/or Ōtorohanga.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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