The government won’t step in to regulate ferry fares on the downtown Auckland to Waiheke route even though its been deemed an integral part of Auckland’s public transport network.
A Waka Kotahi / New zealand Transport Agency recommendation to outgoing Minister of Transport David Parker from September was released under the Official Information Act on Friday.
It shows that although the ferry service was deemed integral, criteria were not met for fares to be regulated.
The final advice comes after years of reviews following strong criticism from Waiheke residents over steep fares, long queues and service cancellations.
Waiheke Local Board chair Cath Handley said the advice has serious implications for the island’s community which “already faces significantly higher than average petrol costs, $25,000 lower than median household income, and the highest rate per capita of homelessness in Auckland”.
