Public transport in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region

Overview of public transport in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region of New Zealand

Public transport in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region

A Palmerston North urban-services bus, with a livery promoting the usage of the Bee Card ticketing system

Overview
Locale| Manawatū-Whanganui
Transit type| commuter rail, bus, elevator
Annual ridership|

Bus:

* 1,085,821 (2023/24)(+30.32%)
* 831,826 (2022/23)

Website| www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport

The Manawatū-Whanganui Region is currently served by a sparsely-developed public transport system but is beginning to see some new developments.

## Overview

[edit]

Public transport in the region is primarily provided by bus services that are managed by the regional council (which operates under the name Horizons Regional Council).[1]

Passenger rail is limited, but the region is served by some services. The Capital Connection links the city of Palmerston North, as well as the towns of Shannon and Levin, to the Wellington Region. The train runs daily as a single morning commuter service into Wellington, before operating a return service in the afternoon. Additionally, the Northern Explorer stops in Palmerston North and Taumarunui six-times-a-week (three in each direction) while travelling between Auckland and Wellington.[2] Taumarunui had previously been removed as a regular scheduled stop in 2012, but was reintroduced in 2022 after extensive lobbying from locals.[3]

The Durie Hill Elevator in Whanganui operates as a public transport service in its own right

The region is unique in New Zealand for having an elevator as a public transport mode. The Durie Hill Elevator, in the city of Whanganui, provides access between the city centre and the suburb of Durie Hill and has been operating since 1919.[4][5]

## Buses

[edit]

As the region consists of two cities as well as numerous towns and rural areas, bus services operate as part of three distinct networks that interconnect. An urban network serves Palmerston North (as well as Fielding) while another separate urban network serves Whanganui. A network of regional bus services connect the two cities to each other as well as the wider region.[6]

### Palmerston North

[edit]

The Palmerston North bus network were refreshed in March 2024, coinciding with the city introducing New Zealand's first all-electric bus fleet.[7]

Palmerston North has eight cross-city bus routes that connect the city's suburbs, passing through the Main Street Bus Hub (MSBH) adjacent to The Square. All but one of these services operates every 30 minutes from approximately 6:30am to 9:00pm daily, increasing to every 15 minutes during weekday peak. An additional service connects Ashhurst with the city several times daily. Three routes provide direct weekday-only services between suburban areas and Massey University.[8][9]

Ridership in August 2024 was at 99,156, an increase of over 20,000 compared to August 2023, and an increase of over 41,000 compared to August 2022.[10]

Palmerston North Bus Lines Table  Route  | Start  | Via  | End  | Notes

|
|
|
|

101  | Massey University | Fitzherbert Avenue, Main Street Bus Hub (MSBH), Ruahine Street (PN Hospital)  | Palmerston North Airport | One service per weekday travels via Atawhai Drive (101X)
102  | Awapuni (Maxwells Line)  | College Street, MSBH, Tremaine Avenue  | Kelvin Grove (Roberts Line)  |
103  | Cloverlea (Benmore Avenue)  | Botanical Road, MSBH, Ruahine Street  | Hokowhitu (Albert Street)  |
104  | Highbury (Clarke Avenue)  | Featherston Street, MSBH, Main Street, Parnell Heights Drive  | Kelvin Grove (Cemetery)  |
105  | Summerhill (Atlantic Drive)  | IPU, Fitzherbert Avenue, MSBH, Rangitikei Street  | Milson (Apollo Park)  |
106  | Awapuni (Maxwells Line)  | Pioneer Highway, MSBH, Featherston Street, Mihaere Drive  | Kelvin Grove (James Line)  | One service per weekday extends to Whakarongo School (106X)
107  | Westbrook (Havelock Avenue)  | Tremaine Avenue, MSBH, College Street  | Terrace End (Brightwater Terrace)  |
108  | Awapuni (Rugby Street)  | Ferguson Street, MSBH, Rangiora Avenue  | Roslyn (Clyde Crescent)  | Weekday interpeak only
114  | Ashhurst | State Highway 3  | Main Street Bus Hub  |
121  | Papaioea (Ward Street)  | Albert Street, Te Awe Awe Street  | Massey University  | Weekdays only
122  | Takaro (Wood Street)  | Botanical Road, College Street  | Massey University  | Weekdays only
123  | Summerhill (Atlantic Drive)  | IPU  | Massey University  | Weekdays only

### Whanganui

[edit]

The Whanganui urban bus network consists of ten routes which converge on the city centre where multiple routes run parallel along a common corridor. For the last few decades, the city has had a bus network focused on coverage with a large number of low-frequency bus routes aimed at providing service coverage to most areas. As a result, most routes are infrequent and only operate every two hours. However, in 2023, the city saw the introduction of a high-frequency bus route focused on patronage and moving large passenger numbers. The route, named Te Ngaru The Tide, runs on 20-minute frequencies between Castlecliff and Aramoho via the city centre bus corridor. In its first month of operation, the city saw an 86 percent increase in urban public transport trips when compared to the same month in the previous year.[11][12][13][6][14]

Whanganui Bus Lines Table  Route  | Start  | End  | Via  | Frequency (approx)

|
|
|
|

201  | Castlecliff | Trafalgar Square (City Centre)  | Fitzherbert Avenue  | Every 2 hours Monday – Friday

Three Saturday services

202  | Whanganui Hospital | Every 2 hours Monday – Friday

Three Saturday services

203  | Springvale | Virginia Road  | Twice daily

Additional interpeak service in the Springvale direction

204  | Parsons Street  | Twice daily

Additional interpeak service in the Trafalgar Square direction

205  | Aramoho | Harrison Street  | Every 2 hours Monday – Friday
206  | London Street  | Every 2 hours Monday – Friday
207  | Whanganui East | Ikitara Road  |
208  | Jones Street  |
209  | Trafalgar Square (City Centre)  | Springvale, Aramoho | Saturday only
210 – The Tide | Castlecliff | Aramoho | Whanganui Hospital, Trafalgar Square (City Centre),  | Every 20 minutes Monday – Friday

Hourly after 7 pm

Every 20 minutes 9 am – 3pm Saturday

### Regional

[edit]

Some of the region's smaller towns and villages are inter-connected with 6 bus lines. Feilding is also served by its own "Orbiter" service.

Regional Bus Lines Table  Route  | Start  | End  | Via  | Frequency  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

225  | Whanganui | Palmerston North | Bulls, Sanson | Daily return (Monday – Friday)  | [14]
301  | Feilding (Manchester Square)  | Feilding (Manchester Square)  |  | Monday to Saturday  | Feilding Orbiter
311  | Feilding (Manchester Square)  | Palmerston North (Main Street Bus Hub)  | Bunnythorpe, PN Airport, PN Hospital  | Monday to Saturday  | One service per day bypasses the Airport and extends to Palmerston North Girls' High School (311G)
N/A  | Levin | Waikanae | Manakau, Otaki | Return service on Tuesdays and Thursdays  | [15] Inter-regional service cross-boundary into the Wellington Region. Jointly funded by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
401  | Palmerston North | Foxton, Himatangi | Daily peak return service (Monday – Friday)  | [16]
402  | Off peak return service on Mondays
Shannon, Tokomaru, Linton | Off peak return service on Wednesdays
N/A  | Taihape | Palmerston North | Ohingaiti, Hunterville, Marton, Bulls | Return service on the first Thursday of every month  | [17]
Whanganui | Ohingaiti, Hunterville, Marton, Turakina | Return service on the third Thursday of every month
A Day Out in Town (Horowhenua District bus service)  | Levin | Levin | Shannon, Foxton Beach, Foxton, Waitarere Beach | One morning and one afternoon service on Fridays  | [18]

## Railway

[edit]

KiwiRail passenger trains in the North Island

The surveying of many of the region’s settlements -and particularly those away from the coast- coincided with the development of the North Island Main Trunk line during the late 19th century. This resulted in many settlements being served by passenger rail.

Declines in passenger railway investments during the 20th century now means that only Palmerston North, Levin and Shannon are served by regular passenger train services. The Capital Connection connects these stations to the Kapiti Coast and Wellington, while the Northern Explorer also serves Palmerston North.

### Proposed Railway Services

[edit]

It is proposed that the Capital Connection’s services be expanded as to enable trains to run multiple times per day.[19]

## Other Modes

[edit]

A tram system was proposed for Palmerston North in 1912 but was not implemented due to the First World War. Buses were ultimately chosen over trams and started services in 1921.

A rapid transit monorail system was proposed for Palmerston North in 1972. The service would have had three stops: Massey University at one end, the Square at the other end, and the Lido Aquatic Centre in the middle.[20] The project was not implemented.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Horizons Regional Council – Transport". Retrieved 4 January 2024.
2. ^ "Horizons Regional Council – Passenger Rail". Retrieved 4 January 2024.
3. ^ "Party at Taumarunui railway station for return of main trunk line". NZ Herald. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
4. ^ Dass, Kiran (25 June 2021). "Anthonie Tonnon: the pop star operating New Zealand's oldest public underground lift". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
5. ^ "Welcome to Heritage New Zealand". Welcome to Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
6. ^ a b "2022–2032 Regional Public Transport Plan" (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
7. ^ Ellingham, Jimmy (4 March 2024). "Palmerston North buses go 100% electric, in first for NZ". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
8. ^ "Bus Timetables and Fares". Horizons. Horizons Regional Council. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
9. ^ Heagney, George (8 March 2024). "Regional council deems new bus network a success". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
10. ^ "Passenger Transport Performance Report FY 2023/24" (PDF). Horizons Regional Council.
11. ^ "Is tide turning for Whanganui's public transport?". NZ Herald. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
12. ^ "Turning the tide for public transport". NZ Herald. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
13. ^ McLean, Glenn (3 December 2023). "Transport advocates urge change to bus network in New Plymouth". Stuff. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
14. ^ a b "2023 Whanganui urban bus timetable" (PDF). 11 September 2023.
15. ^ "Levin – Waikanae timetable" (PDF). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
16. ^ "Levin – Palmerston North timetable" (PDF). 5 August 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
17. ^ "Taihape timetable" (PDF). 12 March 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
18. ^ "Horowhenua timetable" (PDF). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
19. ^ "2021–2031 Regional Land Transport Plan" (PDF). www.Horizons.govt.nz. Horizons Regional Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
20. ^ "Proposal for Monorail Transport System". Manawatū Heritage. Retrieved 8 January 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Public transport in New Zealand

By region|

* Northland
* Auckland
* Waikato
* Bay of Plenty
* Gisborne
* Hawkes Bay
* Taranaki
* Manawatū-Whanganui
* Wellington
* Tasman
* Nelson
* Marlborough
* West Coast
* Canterbury
* Otago
* Southland

Authorities|

* Ministry of Transport
* NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Ticketing|

* AT HOP
* Bee Card
* Snapper
* Metrocard
* Motu Move

Major inter-regional services|

* Te Huia (Auckland, Waikato)
* Northern Explorer (Auckland, Waikato, Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington)
* Capital Connection (Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington)
* Interislander/StraitNZ (Wellington, Marlborough)
* Coastal Pacific (Marlborough, Canterbury)
* TranzAlpine (Canterbury, West Coast)

Advocacy groups|

* Campaign for Better Transport
* Greater Auckland
* Generation Zero

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