New urban bus network coming to Whanganui

Connect – Horizons Regional Transport will introduce a new urban bus network to Whanganui in April this year.

From 17 April there will be two high-frequency routes, operating every 20 minutes, and three routes operating hourly. Services would run on all routes seven days a week.

Horizons Regional Council manager transport services Mark Read says the introduction of the high-frequency Te Ngaru The Tide service in 2023 has driven an increase of patronage on the Whanganui urban network.   

“Off the back of this success, we consulted with the Whanganui community last year about how we could make more improvements to better connect the community and support the city's growth.

“When we did two rounds of public consultation last year, there was overwhelming support from respondents to have a more fit-for-purpose public transport system for the city, now and into the future,” says Mr Read.

Key features of the new network include:

• Two new routes operating every 20 minutes between 8am to 6pm, with extended services every 40 minutes 6-8am and 6-8pm weekdays and later last services on Friday and Saturday evenings
• Three new routes operating every hour between 7am – 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am-3pm on Sundays
• Service to some areas not currently covered, including Pūtiki, and increased coverage for Aramoho and Castlecliff
• Buses running seven days a week
• Friday evening services on high frequency routes
• More frequent services past or near schools, replacing the current once-a-day school services Horizons provides in the Whanganui urban area.

Mr Read says the current network has 31% of Whanganui residents within 400 metres of a route running every hour.

“From 17 April, 72% of Whanganui residents will be within 400 metres of a route running at least hourly, and 52% will be within 400 metres of a route running every 20 minutes.

“Leading into April we'll be rolling out a public awareness campaign with more detail about the new network. We want to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for our current users, and clear information for new users.

“We're committed to making public transport a viable and attractive option for more of the city and simplifying our network is key to this. Our goal is to provide a bus network that boosts transport options, reduces emissions and connects more people to the places they need to go,” says Mr Read.

The introduction of the new network on 17 April 2026 coincides with the inaugural World Public Transport Day – an initiative to celebrate the role public transport plays in our lives and our cities.

For more information about the Whanganui urban bus network, including a map showing the routes being introduced in April, head to https://www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport/whanganui-network

• Whanganui public transport patronage figures:
  • 2022 – 93,245 passenger trips
  • 2023 (the year Te Ngaru The Tide launched) - 163,464 passenger trips
  • 2025 – 193,940 passenger trips
• The changes to Whanganui school bus services are only for the services Horizons Regional Council runs, not the Ministry of Education-run bus services. 
• For more information about public transport in the Horizons Region, head to www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport
• For information about World Public Transport Day, head to https://www.uitp.org/world-public-transport-day/