Power Prices

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It has been a while since the last campaign update to our coalition members! We’d love to share some of what we’ve been working on, and our plan for the next couple of months. 

  • We have been calling for all tertiary students to receive half price fares through Community Connect (which currently applies to under-25s, Community Services Card holders, and Total Mobility). Half of students are 25 and over, missing out on more affordable public transport.
    • Students Association Presidents around the country signed an open letter on this, which you can read here.
    • Read our press release here. 
    • We recently received estimated costings by OIA request which reveal that free public transport for all tertiary students is only $28m over 4 years (compared to $674m for under-25s and $221m for CSC holders).
    • We plan to focus on including students in Community Connect as an achievable win post-elections.
  • We have responded to issues that have arisen with the new Total Mobility discounts. Contrary to earlier communications and understandings, half-price fares for Total Mobility is only applying to taxis and not other public transport. This is a real disappointment which we are hoping will be corrected by the Government.
    • Read our letter to the Minister here.
    • Read our press release here.
    • We are continuing to advocate on this. We are hoping to have some media coverage to hold the Government accountable for leaving behind Total Mobility Card holders in the new public transport discounts.
  • Some of our amazing Auckland volunteers ran a stall at a UN Youth Conference for secondary students. Many postcards were written and sent off to the Minister for Transport, David Parker. 
  • We have been meeting with MPs and candidates to discuss Free Fares. We think that it’s really important for public transport affordability to be front-of-mind for all political parties this election. If you are meeting with any MPs/candidates or attending candidate forums, please ask candidates if they support Free Fares.

Leading up to the election we want to use the opportunity of candidate forums and debates to platform public transport equity as an issue which Aotearoa cares about. Please let us know if you are involved with any candidate events and are able to include a question about Free Fares. We also will run an online training in September, to prepare supporters to raise questions at candidate events. Keep an eye out for more information on this. 

Let us know what your organisation is planning in the lead-up to the election. Is there anything we can get involved with, and any ways that you can include Free Fares in what you’re already doing? We’re always keen for collaboration!

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