Bay of Plenty Regional Council Seeks Feedback on Draft Public Transport Plan

The draft Bay of Plenty Regional Public Transport Plan 2026-2036 is now open for public feedback, with the regional council focusing on making better use of existing services and current investment.

The plan sets out how public transport will be planned, funded and delivered across the region, including both short-term improvements in the first three years and longer-term priorities for growth and change.

Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor and Regional Transport Committee Chair Ken Shirley said the draft plan reflects the different realities across the region and increasing expectations.  

“People want public transport to be reliable, practical, easy to understand and connected to the places they need to go, but there is no single solution for the whole region,” he said.

“We need to get the best from the services and investments we already have, target improvements where they can make the greatest difference, and prepare carefully for longer-term growth.”

In the first three years, the draft plan focuses on reviewed and improved public transport networks, services and timetables to prepare for new bus operator contracts.

Priorities lie in making services more reliable, frequent and accessible, implementing improved technology to create a “better customer experience”.

Longer-term planning requires significant public transport infrastructure and closer integration with urban growth and land-use planning.

In the 2024/25 financial year, around 3,4 million passenger boardings were recorded across the Bay of Plenty public transport network.

The regional council said this highlights the role public transport is playing in how people move around the region.

“The Bay of Plenty is changing quickly, and demand for public transport will only continue to grow,” said Shirley.

“We need to plan for that growth now, making sure the network can respond to changing communities, travel patterns and expectations over time.”

With reform conversations about the future of local government structures happening across the country, Shirley said it is still crucial to have both a short and long-term vision for local public transport services.

“Whatever changes come, people will still need reliable, accessible public transport, and we need to be clear about the role it plays in supporting our communities.”

Regional Council staff will be across Tauranga, Rotorua and the Eastern Bay during the consultation period, to give the community a chance to ask questions, view consultation material and complete submissions.

The draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2026-2036 is open for consultation from Monday 6 July until 4pm Thursday 6 August 2026.

Submissions can be made through the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website or at the Tauranga, Whakatāne and Rotorua offices.  

Hearings are planned for late August, with the final plan expected to be considered for adoption in December 2026.