Greens promise free public transport to under 19yr olds

ByMartyn Bradbury

The Greens are back on their feet with a promise for free public transport to under 19yr olds, free off peak public transport for university students, apprentices and those with disabilities…

Green Party pledges free public transport for under-19s and light rail to Auckland Airport

Free public transport for under-19s and a light rail link to Auckland Airport by 2021 are part of the Green Party’s vision for improving New Zealand transport.

The Greens have been in Auckland outlining their transport strategy ahead of the September 23 general election.

The party also envisions free off-peak public transport for all tertiary students, apprentices and those with disabilities.

A continuation of the SuperGold card for superannuitants has also been touted ahead of a party announcement at Auckland University.

The party expanded on its policy vision on a bus ride through suburban Auckland.

The bus picked up a number of party members en route, including leader James Shaw and MP Julie Anne Genter.

“There are thousands and thousands of students who take this route on public transport to get to university – they’ll be benefiting from this service,” said Genter as the bus drove along Mt Eden Road.

Shaw announced plans for a “Youth Green Card” that would make public transport free for people aged under 19.

…this is the sort of retail politics the Greens must n ow move to counter Labour’s oratory and vision.

The Greens have to let voters know, ‘what exactly am I getting when I vote Green’, that is what they need to hammer into.

The Greens must back this up next with a fully taxed and regulated cannabis market.

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14 Comments

    1. Yes good policy,

      But so far we have seen nothing from NZ Greens on rail freight and passenger yet!!!!!

      The Greens must return to being more active in promoting more rail building not just using buses as most regions are doing now!!!!

      If the Greens are to look truly environmentally astute they must return to their routes as most global green party groups are being.

      Try the UK Green party for instance, they have several pages of policy devoted to rail development https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/tr.html

      NZ Green party only have part of one page;
      https://www.greens.org.nz/policy/environment-policies/our-transport-plan

      https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/tr.html want this; clearly UK Greens favour rail over freight trucks on roads.

      Reduce heavy freight and shift it from the roads to the railways:
      Reduce the demand for freight transport by localising the economy.
      Expand the rail freight network and make greater use of waterways, where suitable.
      Safeguard land adjacent to railways for use in freight distribution projects.
      Introduce road user tolls for heavy lorries.

  2. Well our students do need some help they are our future generation and we should be looking after them. I got some help but that help has been removed by a person (Pull the benefits) who also got help.

  3. Hmmm, I’m sure I’ve seen something like this Youth Green Card idea somewhere a couple of weeks ago.

    The poor and the young are the ones who are hardest hit by transport costs, if the Greens promised a Green Card that gave free bus and train transport (not Ferry’s because that’s just a rort) it would perfectly connect with their environmental credentials as well as their new staunch stand with beneficiaries…

    The huge chunk of none [sic] voting beneficiaries who make up the missing million already have strong reasons to vote Green for the $180 per week increase in benefits, adding free public transport would be the icing on the cake. Launching a Green Card would also inoculate the Greens from the move to free tertiary education that Labour are looking at.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/06/jacindas-first-announcement-lets-do-the-bleeding-obvious-where-the-greens-must-now-move/

  4. Go the Greens! I do support a lot of their environmental policies and I would like to see a good range of parties in parliament. The Greens have some good new ideas around sustainable energy, jobs and improving our environment for our future generations who will inherit the mess the gnats have created in the 9 years they have been in power.

  5. “The Greens must back this up next with a fully taxed and regulated cannabis market.”

    To be fair, this is already Greens policy:

    “Assess evidence from overseas jurisdictions with legal cannabis markets to determine the best model for New Zealand.”
    https://www.greens.org.nz/page/drug-law-reform-policy

    I’d like to see Labour’ official election policy saying something cautious like this statement from the Greens instead of Jacinda’s non-answer that it’s a conscience issue.

    That said, the Greens have had policy supporting cannabis law reform since Nandor and Metiria decamped from the Cannabis party to join them in the late 90s. I agree that it would be good to see them put forward a more detailed proposal for the election, on how a regulated, taxed cannabis market could work for Aotearoa. If they don’t, they risk losing a chunk of the cannabis vote to TOP, who have put forward a specific proposal for a commercial market.

    1. …and NZF would have a referendum on decriminalising cannabis

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83173728/NZ-First-are-on-their-own-calling-for-a-referendum-on-decriminalising-cannabis

      https://norml.org.nz/library/opinion-polls/

      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/05/07/why-nz-first-is-the-only-route-to-legalising-cannabis-and-why-we-will-need-to-start-a-citizens-initiated-referendum-to-get-real-change/

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11692016

  6. Hope it is an electric bus, not the piece of shit diesel pictured. Whats wrong with cycling?

  7. Good policy, could perhaps have been up to at least 21 years of age, I thought, students do not stop studying at 18 or 19.

  8. Oh.

    Yay.

    And how many years before we get those mobility friendly buses? And a frequent enough service on routes that cover the outliers? And enough space for the weekly shopping? And decent working conditions for bus drivers…

    Perhaps some time in a non-urban wilderness would bring the Greens back to earth. Mass public transport is rarely friendly to anyone who has to use personal wheels or even a cane to get around. Ask any mum with an infant and toddler.

    Greens Go.

  9. Pingback: Ohariu u-turn – Latest Green Party meltdown « The Daily Blog

  10. It would save a lot of hassle for drivers, to make buses free for everyone. This could be a big step towards reducing carbon emissions.

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