Helping businesses make sustainable travel choices

Travelwise

Kia ora Brigid,

We're excited to update you on the new changes to our transport choices. Check out how we are slowly but surely paving the way to increase accessibility of public and active transport modes for all Aucklanders.

Fringe Benefit Tax removed from public transport, e-bikes and scooters for businesses

The Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) rules have changed to make it easier for employers to support their staff with travelling to and from work by public transport, e-bike or e-scooter.

Employers can now contribute towards their staff’s daily commute on public transport, without paying FBT.

If your business purchases an e-bike or e-scooter to be primarily used for commuting to the workplace, this will also be exempt from FBT. This means an employer could gift or loan staff a bike, e-bike or e-scooter, or allow staff to trial these devices for commuting before buying their own.

We’d love to discuss with you how your workplace will make the most of this opportunity.

Get in touch

What’s new for public transport fares?

Free travel for children under 13, and half-price fares for under 25s and Community Service Card holders

On 30 June, half-price fares will end for those over 25, as the Government’s half price discount on public transport is ending.

From 1 July, 1.6 million people across Aotearoa who are Community Service Card holders, or under 25 will benefit from half-price fares.

For children under 13, public transport will be free. This could reduce transport costs for a household with two children under 13 by $30 per week.

Our new Community Connect concession provides a 50% discount on public transport for those with a Community Service Card and is available from 1 July. Those eligible can also receive a free AT HOP card when they apply.

These discounts apply to AT timetabled bus, train and ferry services (excludes Waiheke and Rakino ferries).

This is a great step in the right direction towards investing in our youth and achieving our climate goals.

New fares for under 25s

Community Connect concession

On track to remedy Auckland’s bus driver shortage

At the end of 2022, Auckland faced a shortage of more than 570 bus drivers. This has rippled out across our network affecting commuting and travel times for many.

Since then, we have been supporting bus operators with their recruitment, and actively advertising for bus drivers. Welcoming 200 new staff, Auckland is now on track to reach normal reliability of bus services by the end of September.

As these drivers join the workforce each month, you'll see a large increase in the number of services operating and a decrease in the number of bus service cancellations.

If you’re supporting your staff to travel on public transport, keep it up. For more information, check out the video below.

More information here

Updates from the Travelwise team

Several organisational changes are being implemented across the Auckland Council family, including AT. We wanted to give you a brief update on what’s changed in our team, the services we offer and what we’ve been up to over the last month.

We have three knowledgeable Travel Demand Planners working across our 70+ Travelwise businesses: Hannah Jemmett, Hamish Speakman and Abigail Mace.

Please reach out if your business is interested in any of the following services:

Planning your office move
Reaching sustainability goals
Improving workplace wellbeing
Decreasing business travel costs
Measuring travel impact to meet resource consent requirements
Accessing free personal journey planning for staff
Managing flexible working
Cutting staff commuting costs

In the past few months, we’ve been busy working with some exciting new businesses including Vector, MetLife Care, Entelar Group, Highbrook Development Limited, IAG and Eastern Busway Alliance.

Enquire today

Ngā mihi

The AT Team