Ensuring marae are accessible supports community cohesion while encouraging more people to use public transport over private vehicles to access these locations.
Improving public transport access for Māori communities is aligned with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport and the Ministry of Transport/Te Manatū Waka's Outcomes Framework, as well as included in the Regional Public Transport Plan and the Regional Land Transport Plan.
By analysing this data, we can understand the trends in public transport accessibility for marae, assess the effectiveness of current public transport services, and identify areas needing further improvement.
We gather data from our network information (updated annually) and Te Puni Kōkiri/Ministry of Māori Development.
Evidence of effectiveness includes improved public transport coverage, increased service frequencies, and higher user satisfaction rates.
We work collaboratively with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and territorial authorities across the region to develop the Regional Public Transport Plan, which aims to address strategic transport challenges and opportunities. While we are responsible for public transport services, our partner councils in Greater Christchurch and Timaru are responsible for public transport infrastructure. The Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-35 commits $101 million in funding over the next 10 years for public transport infrastructure improvements in Greater Christchurch, including new bus lanes, bus shelters, and improved accessibility to bus stops.
Improvements to inclusive access on our network is subject to funding availability through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). In 2024, the NLTP did not provide funding for network expansion, and therefore we were not able to make any material changes to the Greater Christchurch Metro network, outside of increased “Turn up and go” frequency improvements for Route 7 Halswell to Queenspark.
We can implement policies, provide funding, and enhance service routes and frequencies to improve accessibility to marae.
Partner councils, such as Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council, play a significant role by providing and maintaining the infrastructure required for public transport.
National transport agencies, the Ministry of Transport/Te Manatū Waka and NZTA have the ultimate influence over public transport due to their key roles in setting national transport policies and funding for public transport.
Read about The Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.
Metro Info provides real-time information about Metro services to Marae in Greater Christchurch.