Small increase to public transport fares and paid parking following annual review Small increase to public transport fares and paid parking following annual review

Date: 16 January 2026

Auckland’s public transport fares and the price for on-street parking and Auckland Transport-managed carparks will be subject to a modest increase from 1 February, following Auckland Transport’s annual price review.

Every year, Auckland Transport (AT) reviews public transport fares and parking prices, balancing Aucklanders’ needs and the effect of price changes on demand against operating cost pressures and the funding expectations of Auckland Council and the Government.

From 1 February, AT’s public transport fares will increase by a weighted average of 5.1 percent, which means an increase of between 10 and 25 cents per trip for adult fares on buses and trains, or between 40 and 60 cents for adult ferry trips.

The price for on-street parking and using AT-managed carparks will also increase on 1 February, rising by 50 cents an hour across the region, excluding areas that have already had a price change over the past year.

Both changes have been kept as low as possible and are below the rate of cost increase AT has faced over the past year for running Auckland’s public transport network and parking services – which have increased between 10 and 16 percent.

Public transport fare rises kept as low as possible

AT Director of Public Transport and Active Modes Stacey van der Putten says price increases for public transport fares this year have been kept as low as possible to minimise the burden on Aucklanders during difficult economic times.

“We would love to keep our fares where they are, but annual increases are necessary to keep pace with rising costs and ensure we can continue delivering reliable and frequent public transport services,” Ms van der Putten says.

“AT’s operating costs for public transport have grown by more than 10 percent over the past year, driven by higher rail charges, the cost of running more frequent bus services and contractual adjustments.

“We know affordability is critical for our customers which is why we’ve worked hard to keep this year’s fare increase as low as possible without sacrificing our ability to run Auckland’s vital public transport network.”

Fare cap and discounts keep public transport affordable for more Aucklanders

Importantly, the $50 weekly fare cap introduced last year remains unchanged, continuing to deliver great value for frequent users. In its first year, the fare cap delivered 886,000 free trips and saved customers more than $2 million.

In addition, the tertiary concession was increased from 20 percent to 40 percent in December, making travel more affordable for students and encouraging regular use of public transport. AT also continues to offer the Community Connect concession, which provides half-price fares for Community Services Card holders, helping to make public transport more accessible for those eligible customers.

Parking charges adjusted to manage demand, costs and income expectations

AT Group Manager Parking Services John Strawbridge says public parking rates are adjusted based on demand, economic conditions and operating costs.

“This ensures that users are paying a small share of the costs of running and maintaining Auckland’s parking so that this doesn’t fall on ratepayers,” Mr Strawbridge says.

“As Auckland continues to grow, the cost to maintain and service parking across the city continues to increase as well.

“Year on year, AT is responding to a growing number of requests from Aucklanders about issues that are frustrating them, such as blocked driveways, footpaths and clearways.

“With the funding received from parking, AT is continuing to invest in technology that improves the way we manage Auckland’s parking services, allowing our teams to respond to more requests for assistance, and keep our road network moving.

“These improvements include updates to the AT Park app which provides motorists with a convenient and easy way to find and pay for parking spaces across the region.”