Otago Regional Council (ORC) was updated on the performance of public transport at its meeting yesterday and noted there was record-breaking patronage in Queenstown during 2025 - 2026, surpassing the previous record set in 2024-2025. Each month across the year saw record monthly patronage, with the January 2026 figure of 184,222 being the highest month on record since the Queenstown network began in 2017.

The biggest increase was Queenstown ferry patronage which rose by 32% to 94,135 trips.

For the last financial year – from July 2025 to June 2026 – Queenstown passenger numbers rose by 7% to 2,094,772 trips. In Dunedin, passenger numbers increased by 0.3% to 3,502,758 trips, says ORC’s Transport Portfolio Co-lead Cr Matt Hollyer.

“Increasing fuel prices have contributed to higher patronage in Queenstown and Dunedin by making public transport a more attractive travel option. The introduction of network changes have also contributed to higher numbers, notably the 26% increase in trips on Route 2 and 4, which is now the main bus route between Arrowtown and Queenstown.

“We’re really pleased to see Queenstown’s growth has happened despite its challenging roading conditions and congestion,” Cr Hollyer says.

The busiest month of the year in Dunedin was March, with 352,274 trips. Known as “March Madness”, it is usually a period of particularly high patronage across the country.

Along with increased patronage, fare revenue in Queenstown for 2025-2026 increased by 27% to $3,999,917, and Dunedin’s fare revenue increased by 21% to $4,996,018.

The rise in revenue reflects fare increases introduced in September 2025 which resulted in the first annual increase in revenue for some time. The fare changes were an increase in the adult Bee Card fare from $2 to $2.50, and the reintroduction of child Bee Card fares of $1.50.

Patronage for Total Mobility, a door-to-door transport service for people with limited or reduced mobility who cannot easily use typical public transport, increased by 6.4% for the year, rising to 151,408 trips. Subscribers continue to rise, with an increase of 13.2% to 7,520 registered users.

ORC has been recognised for its work to increase private share and received an award from NZTA Waka Kotahi and Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ) for the greatest increase in fare recovery (private share) in 2025-2026.