For the last financial year – from July 2024 to June 2025 – Dunedin passenger numbers rose by 3% to more than 3.4 million trips compared to the same period in 2023 – 2024. This was a 37% increase since 2018 – 2019 and now well surpasses Otago Regional Council’s pre-Covid levels of patronage.

In Queenstown, passengers took nearly 2 million trips, a 4% increase for the year and a 33% increase since 2018 – 2019.
 
Co-chair of Otago Regional Council’s Public and Active Transport Committee Alexa Forbes says patronage over the past year shows Otago continues to experience strong public transport growth. 

“We’re really pleased to see full year patronage numbers have exceeded the previous year, especially as the removal of subsidies can create challenges for our public transport community. It’s also heartening to see our patronage numbers compare favourably with other mid-size NZ cities. The increase in both Queenstown and Dunedin shows people are making good use of our bus services – a growing trend in Otago.”

Fare revenue in Dunedin for the year was down 8% to $4.1 million while in Queenstown revenue for the same period declined 4% to $3.1 million. 

In Queenstown, there was record monthly patronage during 10 of the 12 months and the busiest months were August 2024 and January 2025. In Dunedin, record numbers of people travelled by bus during eight months of the year. The busiest months were August 2024 and March 2025.

The Queenstown ferry operation saw a 4% decline in patronage to 71,123 passengers for the year, while revenue was down 1% to $772,775.

Total Mobility patronage was up 15% in patronage for the year, rising to 142,312 trips. The trip costs are shared between the passenger, ratepayer and taxpayer.

The public transport patronage and revenue data is being presented to ORC’s Public and Active Transport Committee tomorrow, Wednesday, 3 September, for noting. The report and meeting agenda can be read at www.orc.govt.nz/councilagenda