Tide recedes on Hokianga Ferry aged-based fares

Discounted passenger fares for those aged 24 and younger will end on all public transport, including the Hokianga Ferry, next month.

Changes to the Community Connect Concessions Scheme were announced by the government in December 2023 and will mean that from 1 May children aged 12 and under will no longer be able to travel for free, while ferry passengers aged 13 to 24 will no longer be eligible for half price tickets.

The government-funded scheme was introduced in April 2022 to counter the rising cost of living and provided half price fares for all passengers. This ended in June 2023, but was followed by the introduction of age-based fares making public transport cheaper for young people.

Last year, the new National Government announced a more targeted approach for the scheme that will leave only those with a Community Service Card eligible for discounted passenger fares on the Hokianga Ferry.

The Hokianga Ferry operates between Rāwene and Kohukohu daily. The ferry timetable can be found here.

More information on the changes to the scheme can be found here.