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New Aranui bus trial: should it go to Eastgate or The Palms?

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Residents in Aranui will soon get better access to public transport, with Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) introducing a new 12-month trial bus service later this year.

The Aranui bus trial will run hourly between New Brighton and either Eastgate Mall or The Palms Shopping Centre.

Before the trail starts, the Council wants the community’s feedback on which destination it should go to. Both Eastgate and The Palms are busy bus hubs, giving customers options for travelling further around the city.

More public transport options for Aranui

The Regional Council voted unanimously in favour of the trial bus service, after continued requests from the Aranui community.

Public Transport Core Service Lead Councillor Joe Davies said he’s glad Council supported the request.

“This community has campaigned on this for a long time, so I’m pleased we can now put something in place that will really help them,” he said.

Have your say on the trial bus route destination

A survey has been set-up for the community to have its say on where the service should travel to. This gives the community a chance to say whether Eastgate Mall or The Palms Shopping Centre is a better destination.

“If you are a part of this community, it’s important you have your say on where you’d like the trial bus service to go, we want to give it the best chance of success,” Cr Davies said.

“Both Eastgate and The Palms connect with other bus routes, so it’s a matter of the community letting us know which makes more sense for them,” he added.

Have your say: Take the 2-minute survey and choose your preferred bus destination.

What happens next

  • The survey is open for two weeks, closing on Sunday 3 May 2026
  • Environment Canterbury will review community feedback once the survey closes
  • Detailed planning will begin after a destination is confirmed
  • The Aranui bus trial will run for 12 months

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