Enhancing regional connectivity and community transport are key priorities in ORC’s Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-2035, with community transport receiving overwhelming community support during consultation on the plan.
Community transport is a not-for-profit public transport service owned and operated by community entities. These services fulfil an important role in providing a transport option to smaller, often rural, communities that are outside of the urban public transport network. They typically rely on volunteer drivers, use smaller vehicles and accept koha rather than charging a fare.
Several groups currently provide community transport services in Otago. ORC is currently exploring how best to support these groups to ensure they can continue to provide services to meet people's transport needs well into the future.
A successful example of community transport that was supported by ORC and then adopted as part of the Orbus network is the Ōamaru-Dunedin community shuttle trial that ran until 1 October 2026.
The Ōamaru community shuttle connected Ōamaru, Palmerston, and Dunedin, linking rural towns with Orbus services for easier regional travel. Supported by volunteers and Otago Regional Council, the service was replaced by an Orbus service on 1 October 2026.
Otago Regional Council has supported the development of a framework for community transport in Otago.
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