Students forgotten as bus prices rise again

Chloe Swarbrick says fares should be free. Photo / RNZ

“Students are materially far worse off these days than students 10 years ago”, says Chloe Swarbrick, so how would they ever be able to afford today’s public transport?  

As of the 1st of April, bus prices across Wellington will be going up 6% and half price fares will be gone.   

Greens MP Chloe Swarbrick said, “It’s definitely the case that students are disproportionately using public transport and therefore, will be disproportionately impacted by the hikes in cost.”   

The Peoples Inquiry into Student Wellbeing last year showed that two thirds of students regularly can’t afford the basics.   

“I don’t think students are being considered at all really by local or central government in any meaningful way.”  

“Once again, we saw that the 400,000 odd students in this country were kicked to the curb because there was an assumption that they wouldn’t kick up a fuss or fight back.”  

Swarbrick said, “there’s been a very systemic and intentional undermining of student power.”  

 “Students are materially far worse off these days than students 10 years ago when I was at uni, let alone 20 years ago when now Prime Minister was the head of Victoria University of Wellington student association,” said Swarbrick.  

“This is where the government actually really has to step in.”  

Greens MP Julie Anne Genter said “The reality is, public transport has been too expensive in New Zealand for a really long time.”  

“Arguably central government should be putting in more money and they’re not,” said the transport and infrastructure deputy chairperson Genter.  

Genter feels the government’s money should be going towards public transport instead of fossil fuel.  

“They should be rolling out bus lanes and bus priority much faster.”