Tertiary Commuter Services Ending

From 20 December 2024, the Regional Tertiary Commuter services will no longer operate. This change will impact ākonga and commuters who rely on these services. Below are details about the affected services and other available travel options.

Affected services:

101: Whakatāne – Tauranga
102: Rotorua – Tauranga
103: Katikati – Tauranga
104: Murupara – Rotorua
105: Tauranga – Rotorua

Alternative transport options:

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council, who runs these bus services, has identified some alternative routes that may work for your travel needs, however, not all routes have direct replacements. Please check the times to see if they meet your schedule:

Route 143 (Whakatāne – Tauranga): An alternative service arrives in Tauranga CBD at 11.45am and departs at 2.05pm.  For students heading to Toi Ohomai (Windermere), take Route 143 to Bayfair/Farm St, then transfer to the CT service for direct access to campus.

Routes 80/81 (Katikati – Tauranga): These services operate six inbound/outbound buses daily, with the earliest arrival in Tauranga at 7.40am and the latest departure at 5.15pm. Toi Ohomai students will need to connect to Route 55 to reach Windermere campus.

Route 15/15a (Murupara – Rotorua): Available on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. However, there is no Monday or Sunday service. It arrives in Rotorua at 10.20am and departs at 1.30pm. Toi Ohomai students will need to connect to Route 11 or 12 to reach Mokoia campus.

No alternatives are currently available between Rotorua and Tauranga.

Why are these services ending?

The decision to end these services is due to consistently low passenger numbers and limited funding. Despite efforts to secure additional funding and explore fare options, the service remains financially unsustainable without sufficient support. We understand this is a significant change, and we’re here to assist you with planning alternative travel options.