More frequent Route 7 buses are helping more people get where they need to go. Patronage is up 7% thanks to improved reliability and extra capacity.
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Bus and ferry services in Greater Christchurch and Timaru
Last updated: 16 February 2026
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Core service: Public Transport
Our Metro bus and ferry services aim to deliver effective public transport and access to social, cultural, education, and economic opportunities.
Metro bus and ferry services offer accessible, affordable, and sustainable alternative options to private vehicle travel.
Service measure targets will be assessed and updated on an annual basis in response to government funding certainty, and real-time phasing of proposed service improvements.
How are we tracking on our service measures?
Service measure 28: Percentage of customers satisfied with Metro public transport services
Target: 95% or more
How we are doing: The survey will be undertaken in quarter four. This target has been consistently achieved in previous years.
On track
Service measure 29: Number of trips per capita per year in Greater Christchurch and Timaru
Target: 25 or more
How we are doing: 26 - 28 in Greater Christchurch and 7 in South Canterbury.
On track
Service measure 30: Percentage of fleet that meet quality criteria
Target: 80% or more
How we are doing: 86% - We audit our fleet a minimum of three times each year against quality standards.
On track
Service measure 31: Number of safety related incidents (passengers and drivers) per 100,000 passenger trips
Target: 3 or fewer
How we are doing: 1.3 - there were 93 incidents and 7.42M trips to the end of quarter two.
On track
Service measure 32: Percentage of bus and ferry services that start on time
Target: Bus services and ferry services: 95% or more
How we are doing: 95% - bus and ferry services punctuality remained consistent with previous quarters.
On track
Service measure 33: Proportion of kilometres travelled by zero emission vehicles
Target: 19% or more
How we are doing: Bus services 33% - The improvement (up from 29% last year) is a result of the reallocation of the zero-emission fleet across the network in 2024/25.
On track
More information
These measures help us understand our customer experience, including safety and the reliability of our services, and where investment may be needed to align service delivery with community expectation.
We are aiming to have a net-carbon zero fleet by 2035, and service measure 33 helps track our progress. A net-carbon zero fleet refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
As we increase the number of electric buses in our fleet, diesel buses will be phased out and therefore, fewer carbon emissions from public transport will be released into the atmosphere.
Recent highlights and updates
News
In the first month, more than 100,000 Motu Move tags have been made on buses by over 20,000 users.
News
We will be offering pre-booked event shuttles to Te Kaha Stadium when it opens in April 2026.
News
From 26 January 2026, South Canterbury Metro fares will be raised, which will affect users of MyWay, Timaru school services, and the Temuka-Timaru service.
News
Bus network upgrades progress with inclusion in Te Waihanga’s draft National Infrastructure Plan, strengthening confidence in future public transport.
News
Paying for bus and ferry services in Greater Christchurch is now easier with the introduction of contactless payments.