Weekly Review No.120
Inside this edition: New Auckland ferries go on sea trials, Metro welcomes new electric double-decker bus into service and the Hokianga Link gets a temporary operator.
Kia ora and welcome to the Weekly Review. 2026 is rolling on fast. We have just completed the first week of March and our 6th Weekly Review for 2026. We will be here for all the transport news, big or small, in 2026 and beyond, so stay tuned and give us a follow wherever you are online.
We are on X, BlueSky and Instagram @NZTransitBuzz.
37 new electric buses will be on the road in Dunedin from October this year as part of two new contracts awarded by Otago Regional Council to Go Bus Transport, part of Australasian public transport operator Kinetic.
Te Pahi Taranaki has confirmed to NZ Transit Buzz that, as part of their new bus network, 11 new eBuses will be entering service. Te Pahi Taranaki also confirmed there will be further details about the buses in the coming weeks.
Adults will be able to tap on and off Metlink buses and trains using a debit or credit card, smartphone or smartwatch, through the existing Snapper system from 12 April.
Once these additional payment options are available, Metlink will start to phase out the use of cash on board buses and trains over the next 12 months.
Metlink public transport fares will increase by 3.1% from 15 May, with discounts applied to off‑peak fares being reduced from 30 to 20%.
Auckland Transport have begun testing Auckland’s new hybrid electric and full electric ferries using 15kg sandbags. The sandbags are being reused from earlier CRL testing.
Repairs are under way on seven train carriages damaged in an incident during a recent storm. Their sidelining had led to major disruptions on the Wairarapa Line – and the last of the carriages were not expected to be back in action until the end of March.
Between Auckland Transport and CRL Limited, $2.4 million has so far been spent on “marketing” the City Rail Link train line, while a further $1.03m will be spent before the end of the year.
The former Interislander ferry Aratere has spent five months in New Zealand waters since being retired, with the foreign crew onboard earning below minimum wage, as it waits for permission to enter India.
KiwiRail has nearly tripled its half-year earnings as it carried more freight. The state-owned rail operator’s operating surplus for the six months ended December was $73.4 million compared to $25.8m a year ago.
KiwiRail says a spate of recent near misses on a busy railway level crossing near Balclutha are a ‘‘warning sign’’ for drivers to take additional care.
The Automobile Association says the government’s proposal to bring in a number of new road rules will clarify the situation for road users to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
From 2 March 2026, the country’s first lightweight electric double-decker will officially join Metro’s fleet. The bus is intended to start on the Route 7 Halswell-Queenspark service and will be tested on several of Metro’s busier routes.
The bus can take up to 95 customers, including 14 standing downstairs. One feature of the new bus is a customer loading screen on the ground level to indicate how many seats are left upstairs. Cameras located on the upper level allow the driver to see who is deboarding, so they can wait the appropriate amount of time for customers to hop off once the bus has come to a complete stop.
KiwiRail has shared images and an update on the Henderson Station project. Project Manager Kyle Yozin said, “The big new structures are in place, signalling and overhead lines are complete and an amazing new platform will be finished early next month”
Minor works remain on the platform, which include fitting out the emergency exit bridge and completing work on the existing platform extension. All platforms have been resurfaced to prevent future ponding and stairwells & platforms have been repainted for improved accessibility.
The transport corridor once earmarked for Auckland’s light rail line has been deemed a “nationally significant problem” by the Government’s infrastructure commission, nearly two years after the coalition scrapped the project.
The Church Street East level crossing in Penrose has been permanently closed as KiwiRail and Auckland Transport work to remove level crossings from across the Auckland rail network.
Lights and bells from this crossing have already been removed and the road and foot crossing have been blocked with temporary fencing. Crews are also working to upgrade an existing access driveway to become a roadway for the buildings on the opposite side of the crossing.
The New Zealand Blood Service is hitting the road with a lifesaving first: a mobile plasma collection bus set to expand access to plasma donation across the central North Island.
Just five months on from Wellington’s head of buses trumpeting patronage being at record highs, public transport use is falling as another fare hike is confirmed.
By Kasey McDonnell via Welly Climate Nerd: You’re not going crazy. Bus replacements are getting worse. Today, we’re going to explore how bus replacements have increased since 2017, why it’s happening, and why I’m feeling uneasy about the future.
Ratepayers remain on the hook for an “eye-watering” bill of up to $50 million for railway safety upgrades, as Christchurch City Council negotiates with KiwiRail to bring down the cost.
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is pleased that KiwiRail proactively published its maintenance schedule to help our members manage demand. Bluebridge has stated it does not intend to dry dock either of its ferries this year.
Wairarapa Mobile Media Blasting has showcased the work they completed for a heritage rail restoration society. The bogey has had surface rust blasted off the frame in preparation for restoration.
Franklin ward Councillor Andy Baker has shared photos of the nearly completed Paerata and Drury rail stations.
At Paerata, much of the works appear to be focused on the overbridge, with platforms looking fairly complete. At Drury, the station totem has been installed, Great South Road has been upgraded, works continue on the station building and overbridge, and the platforms also need further work to finish them.
Auckland Council has appointed an interim board to navigate Auckland’s transport CCO through reform that creates a solely public-transport delivery organisation and puts transport planning and decision-making in the hands of Auckland Council’s elected members.
MediaWorks / QMS has shared photos of the special BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival bus shelter advert takeovers that were constructed to celebrate the Year of the Horse. The shelters featured traditional hanging lanterns and an LED glow bar.
Kaikohe Bus Company will temporarily operate the Hokianga Link until the end of May after the previous operator stepped back. NRC will be running a formal tender process to find a new long-term operator for the Hokianga Link from June 2026. There are no changes to the current timetable or route. For Rawene passengers: If you need to make a pre-booking, please contact Kaikohe Bus Company directly on 09 401 0193.
Works are underway to install signage at the Victoria Street West entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station. Crews appear to be installing a station name totem, as has been installed at stations across the rest of the transport network.
Auckland Transport have shared tips to keep Aucklanders moving throughout March Madness.
Driving: Check traffic conditions.
Buses: Keep unused and priority seats clear.
Trains: Move all the way down the carriage where possible.
Ferries: Patience with queues to the ferries.
KiwiRail has begun trialling entombing to extend the lifespan of some rail bridges. Crews encase the existing timber pile in steel cylinders to 1.8m below ground and they are then sealed and filled with high-flow grout. This extends the lifespan by 30 years.
KiwiRail will be upgrading the rail crossing on Station Rd, Lovells Flat on March 8. A temporary closure will be in place from 6 am to 6 pm. Detours will be available via State Highway 1 and Lakeside Rd.
Intercity has taken delivery of a Yutong C10 for its Gisborne–Napier and Gisborne–Rotorua services.
The coach features:
Seating for 39 passengers
USB charging at every seat
Safety, such as 360° driver warning camera, ADAS & AEBS
Intercity's new coach - Supplied.
KiwiRail has shared progress photos of Ngākōroa Railway Station with the Drury Community Committee. The photos show the station access track and the piling works underway for the station overbridge, these will be similar in design to Drury & Paerātā.
Stratford District Council have shared before and after photos of the Midhirst bus shelter. Crews have repainted the roof, replaced the bench seats, painted the interior walls and moved the sign to be visible from the road.
The Ministry of Education has been accused of being “short-sighted” and “archaic” following changes made to Gisborne school bus routes, which principals say would be “a massive blow” for students and their families.
Due to rail trail closures on the Hauraki Rail Trail, Goldfields Railway are undertaking maintenance on their Bike Wagon. The wagon will be out of service for 1–2 weeks. During this time, E-bikes cannot be carried, a limited number of regular bikes may be transported and saddle bags must be removed before loading.
A shuttle operator has been banned from taking visitors to and from Tongariro Alpine Crossing for two weeks after it “potentially put lives at risk” by ignoring a hazardous weather warning, the Department of Conservation says.
The procurement of a new Chatham Islands supply vessel has hit another milestone with the signing of a ship delivery agreement. The contract is with 44 South Shipping Limited Partnership, a joint venture of McCallum Bros Ltd and Nova Marine Carriers.
Weight control, diverse support systems and operational flexibility were key considerations when it came to designing Auckland’s first plug-in hybrid-electric fast ferry.
KiwiRail has shared an update with details on when the Interislander fleet will go into wet & dry dock in 2026.
Kaiārahi will be wet-docked from June 22 to July 13.
Kaitaki will follow with dry dock from July 18 to September 26.
A commuter rail service between Selwyn townships and Christchurch is being investigated by a community board, with planning under way for a one-off trial later this year.
A Wellington cable car-themed keychain is selling like hotcakes. It comes as the famous cable car, one of Wellington’s most popular attractions, struggles to meet ticket sales targets amid lower cruise ship visitors.
Diamond Harbour Ferry advised of works taking place on the B Jetty Gangway on March 5, following the completion of the fast runs at 10:00 am.
Lyttelton Port Company will be laying matting and applying adhesive to the gangway to improve safety ahead of winter. The ferry service will continue to operate as normal; however, there will be no Quail Island trips running during this time.
An historic photo shows station master Sawyers and his staff standing proudly on the platform - but its the signage behind them that has caught the eye of those charged with restoring the station.
Buses running up and down Fitzherbert Ave in Palmerston North have become so popular that they cannot stop for everyone waiting to catch them. The 101 service to Massey and the 105 to Summerhill are regularly full during weekday commuter peak times in the mornings and afternoons.
Via Greater Auckland: The opening of CRL later this year should be a momentous occasion for Auckland. But increasingly we’re worried that Auckland Transport are about to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Terramotive have recently delivered a Yutong C10 coach to the team at No.8 Tours.
The new coach features:
Reclining seats
Extra leg room
USB charging ports
Upgraded safety features
No.8 Tours new Yutong C10 - Supplied.
Auckland Transport has shared a timelapse and several facts about the nearly completed Tī Rākau Bridge.
Four cranes were involved
2,300m³ of concrete poured
20 metre deep foundations
1 month until complete
The Ocean Beach Railway have moved wagon Ea 3559 (Ex carriage A1002) from the Ben’s Meadow siding to the carriage shed yard to recover the double slip, which will be dismantled for parts. Volunteers will also remove the rotten timber decking from the wagon ahead of using the wagon for a future project.
A new locomotive (the remains of Andrew Barclay 1402, a West Coast bush engine), arrived in December 2025 and has now been moved under a cover in the OBR compound for eventual restoration.
Lumsden Heritage Trust has taken delivery of one of the Baguley-Drewry locomotives. The other locomotive will go on display at the Tuatupere Railway Station on Thursday. The locomotives worked in the # 2 Tunnel development in Manapouri.
KiwiRail has shared photos of the completed ocean‑themed mural at Maungawhau Station. The mural was painted by Jessica Rukea, RVST and Joey Plutoski during the summer rail shutdown as part of KiwiRail’s beautification initiative to reduce graffiti in hotspots across Auckland’s rail network.
Aucklanders are being asked to have their say on this year’s annual plan, which comes with a 7.9% rates increase to fund the running costs of the City Rail Link.
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