Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will introduce a youth fare as part of its upcoming 1 May fare changes.
The new fare will be automatically applied to users with a Bee Card whose date of birth shows them as between the ages of 5 and 18.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council GM Policy and Regulation, Katrina Brunton said community feedback on the new fare structure had highlighted the need for the youth fare.
“It is important to note that this is not just for students but for any young person between the ages of 5 and 18,” she said.
“The increase in fares is a result of rising operational costs such as fuel, labour, maintenance, and administration, as well as the removal by NZTA of funding for certain age groups. Hopefully, the youth fare will help bus-using families.”
Travel for children under 5 will remain free. Community services card holders will also receive a discount due to continued central government funding. These users receive a 50% discount on the adult fare.
Fares will be charged as below from 1 May.
| 1 Zone | 2 Zone | |||
| Cash | BeeCard | Cash | BeeCard | |
| Adult (18+) | $3.00 | $2.00 | $4.00 | $3.00 |
| Supergold Peak | $2.00 | $3.00 | ||
| Community Service Card | $1.00 | $1.50 | ||
| Youth (5-18) | $1.25 | $1.50 | ||
| Child (0-5) | Free | Free | ||
