The Green Party has proposed making off-peak public transport free for tertiary students.
Co-leader Russel Norman announced the “Student Green Card” scheme today at the University of Auckland.
The card would be universally available to people studying at universities, wānanga, polytechnics and Private Training Establishments, as well as those training through New Zealand Apprenticeships. Off peak travel would include travel between 9am and 3pm, and after 6.30pm Monday to Friday and include weekends
The scheme would cost $20 million to 30 million per year and require re-prioritised spending from the National Land Transport Fund.
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) welcomed the announcement, describing it as a long overdue acknowledgement that getting to and from classes is a significant financial burden on students.
“The real costs students face each week are increasing faster than the student support they are entitled to: in housing, in transport, in textbooks, in course fees, this would make a significant difference,” said NZUSA president Daniel Haines. “This policy would encourage students to use public transport, and public transport suppliers to provide better routes and times to suit classes. It would free up parking around campuses while making better use of buses and trains when school students are using them.”