Public transport in New Zealand

Public transport in New Zealand consists of bus, boat, heavy rail, and some light rail facilities. Two of the country's largest cities, Auckland and Wellington, also have suburban rail systems, while many cities also operate local ferry services. The country's first metro system, the City Rail Link, will open in 2026 in central Auckland. There have been multiple proposals to build light rail in major cities, though none are currently being built. Remaining tramway lines include a heritage line in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter and a small line in central Christchurch.

With the exception of the Wellington Region, from the 1960s New Zealand has shifted to have generally low rates of public transport usage, with 90% of urban trips by private cars in 2018. The decline, which was worse than in the United States in 2001, coincided with private cars becoming more affordable. Many extensive tramway systems were removed in the mid-century period as part of an Australasian trend. Public transport usage continued falling throughout the decades afterwards. Higher operations and maintenance costs from increased petrol prices also put operators at a loss financially.

Intercity public transport in New Zealand is very limited. Almost all intercity bus services are operated for-profit by a single private company, InterCity. InterCity operates only major national routes, and few connecting and regional routes. Intercity rail in New Zealand has declined sharply in the last few decades, being mostly composed of lines dedicated to tourists. There are two commuter only lines: Te Huia between Auckland and Hamilton, and the Capital Connection between Wellington and Palmerston North.

Poor usage has led government planners to assume that the disuse of public transport came from public distaste, rather than coming from poor service, leading to a cycle of underinvestment and neglect. This is despite increasing population in the areas where public transport previously commanded ridership. A disorganised and fragmented governance structure around public transport has led to indecision and a lack of a uniform national and regional strategy. In the last few decades there has been increased interest in public transport, due to road congestion and environmental concerns. Public transport services have begun to be expanded and improved, and in some regions, like Auckland and Otago, patronage has been steadily increasing.