Date: 1 October 2026

Auckland employers can now pay 100% of their staff’s public transport costs through Auckland Transport’s Fareshare programme.

The expansion of Fareshare lifts the maximum employer subsidy from 75% to 100%. It comes after Auckland Transport heard strong feedback from a range of Fareshare businesses that they wanted to completely fund their employee's use of public transport.

There are now more than 135 businesses signed up to Fareshare, with 16 already offering a 100% public transport subsidy for their staff taking Auckland Transport’s bus, train and ferry services.

Auckland Transport Executive General Manager Network Planning and Performance Richard Harrison says the expanded Fareshare scheme gives businesses a great way to invest in their people and reduce their cost of living pressures.

“Fareshare makes it easy for Auckland businesses and organisations to fully fund their people’s commutes as well the rest of their public transport travel costs,” Mr Harrison says.

“This is a fantastic benefit for employees and makes a genuine difference to household budgets, particularly for people travelling into work several days a week. Fareshare is an employee benefit that gives people real savings every time they tap on.

“With the City Rail Link enabling a new and improved connected rail network, there has never been a better time for people to give public transport a go. Faster journeys, more direct travel options, including two new city centre stations, as well as enhanced connections between trains and buses are all making it easier for people to get where they need to go.”

11,000 Aucklanders already onboard with Fareshare

About 11,000 Aucklanders already get discounted public transport through their workplaces being signed up to Fareshare. Together, they have made almost 1.3 million public transport trips and helped avoid an estimated 1,695,000 kilograms of emissions.

Mr Harrison says the results demonstrate how decisions made by individual businesses can add up to a significant region-wide impact.

“Every new business that joins can help make commuting more affordable, reduce pressure on roads and parking, and turn its sustainability commitments into measurable action.”

Rocketing to success – a game changer for employees

Auckland video games studio RocketWerkz announced it was paying for 100% of its employees’ public transport, in time for the opening of the City Rail Link.

Chief Operating Officer Stephen Knightly says RocketWerkz, based at the top of PwC Tower next door to Waitematā Station, uses Fareshare to cover the costs of buses, trains, and ferries, seven days a week.

“When we were planning our office, we bought into the vision for a vibrant downtown Auckland and we want to do our part to support that by making it easy for our staff to come into the city centre.

“Auckland is a great place to live and work, and by investing in our people’s daily commute, we’re showing our commitment to being an employer that values its team and backs Auckland.”

Fareshare - a benefit that delivers for people and businesses

Fareshare allows employers to subsidise 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of their employees’ eligible public transport fares. Businesses can choose whether the subsidy applies from Monday to Friday or seven days a week.

Employees sign up using their work email address and a registered AT HOP card. They then travel as normal, with the discount applied automatically when they tag on and off. The employer pays the subsidised portion and receives a monthly invoice showing employee travel costs.

There is no administration charge from Auckland Transport, and Fareshare is exempt from fringe benefit tax, making it an attractive and cost-effective addition to an organisation’s employee benefits package.

Businesses signed up to Fareshare have recorded an average 32.6% increase in public transport use, with higher subsidies associated with greater increases.

Businesses interested in giving their people a cheaper, or completely free, public transport commute can learn more through Auckland Transport’s Fareshare information for employers.

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