A complete restriction of the use of front-mounted bike racks on all public transport buses throughout Nelson Tasman is in place until further notice.
The restriction has been issued by bus operators across New Zealand following a safety notice from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)(external link)
Visit the new eBus website(external link) for full details of routes, timetables and fares.
A new public transport connection to Tapawera is being trialled.
The Nelson Tasman Community Transport Trust has started a weekly service from Tapawera to both Richmond and Motueka on a three-month trial.
The minibus leaves the Community Centre at 9.30 am on Tuesdays for Richmond, and on Wednesdays it heads to Motueka, returning to Tapawera by 3.00 pm. Volunteer drivers will be using the Trust’s six-seater Serena hybrid bus and fares are $6 each way. Call the Motueka iSite to book a seat and pay.
As a bonus, the Trust is delighted to be partnering with the Richmond Aquatic Centre offering passengers discounted swims and coffee.
The centre has also offered volunteer drivers free swims and a coffee and is keen to see Tapawera people take advantage of their trial discounts!
And in Motueka, the Trust is linking with the Nelson Bays Primary Health ‘Green Prescription: Kick Start’ programme from 1 May with their eight-week course for just $3 per session. Register on their website: nbph.org.nz/green-prescription.
The Nelson Tasman Community Transport Trust is also looking for volunteers to join the driver team, call Anita on 022 682 2373 or go to the Trust’s website: ntctt.org.nz.
Our subsidy of bus fares over Tākaka Hill to Motueka is locked in until at least mid 2025 and extra capacity is avaiable.
The first 12 month trial was a great success, so working with Golden Bay Coachlines, we have increased the number of subsidised trips to 26 a month.
In the first 12 months, 198 adults used the cheaper fares with 18 youngsters using the child subsidy.
Golden Bay Coachlines General Manager Arthur Clarence says it’s really encouraging to see the number of locals using the service – some repeatedly.
He says it’s pleasing to see the service is now in the Regional Transport Plan which gives it certainty going forward.
We pay $16 toward an adult fare and $10 toward a child’s ticket to bring them down to $16 and $6 respectively.
Services run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Passengers will need to prove they are residents by showing some form of ID like a local library card or another proof of address like a rates, power or telephone bill.
Bookings can be made at the Golden Bay Coachlines office on Commercial Street in Tākaka, or by phoning 03 525 8352.
The Motueka Community Bus will now travel to Richmond via the Moutere.
Run by the Nelson Tasman Community Transport Trust with Council support, the service runs twice a week from Motueka along the Main Road Lower Moutere and the Moutere Highway to Richmond CBD and Aquatic Centre, then return.
The bus departs the Motueka i-SITE at 9.30 am Tuesday and Thursday then leaves the Richmond Aquatic Centre for the return journey at 2.00 pm.
The service is staffed by a volunteer drivers and costs $12 for a return trip or $6 for one way.
Due to limited seating pre-booking is essential via Motueka i-SITE, phone 03 528 6543.
For information about the timetable, fares and terms of carriage visit ntctt.org.nz.
Māpua’s Willing Wheels service is staffed by volunteer drivers using their own vehicles to take people where they need to go. Read more about the service here.
Abel Tasman Coachlines operates regular services to Motueka, Kaiteriteri and Mārahau and Tākaka,
Golden Bay Coachlines runs regular services between Nelson and Tākaka, with stops in Richmond, Motueka and Riwaka.
