Wellington's city and regional councils to face select committee over bus fiasco

Wednesday, 17 July 2019

Greater Wellington Regional Council chief executive Greg Campbell addressed a parliamentary select committee on the city's bus problems in September last year.

Wellington City Council has been summoned to front a parliamentary select committee over the city's bus debacle.

Greater Wellington Regional Council, which is responsible for last year's controversial network overhaul, has twice fronted a select committee over the subsequent problems.

But it is the first time the city council has been summoned to explain itself.

The councils will present to the transport and infrastructure select committee on July 25.

**READ MORE:

Wellington-based National List MP Nicola Willis says the regional council has 'passed the buck' to the city council. (File photo)

* War of words over buses

* Bus changeover a year on

Rongotai MP Paul Eagle says the city council has shown a lack of leadership over the bus problems. (File photo)

* Transport Minister had bus concerns

* Council boss on bus duty**

'We were concerned at WCC's lack of leadership and their reluctance to work collaboratively with the GWRC to ensure the successful implementation of the bus network,' Rongotai MP Paul Eagle, a member of the select committee, said.

'We've called WCC and GWRC back to explain themselves.'

The new network, which was rolled out on July 15 last year, has led to continuing problems with lateness, overcrowding and cancellations.

A driver shortage, which some blame on the regional council not protecting drivers' wages and conditions when the changeover happened, has exacerbated the problems.

The regional council fronted the select committee in September last year, and again in June.

Wellington-based National List MP Nicola Willis, who grilled the regional council during the previous meetings, said it had 'passed the buck' to the city council over the problems.

The regional council runs the buses and operates the network across the region, while the city council is responsible for bus stops, bus lanes and priority traffic lights within Wellington City.

'At the last hearing we had of the [sustainable] transport committee, the regional council did a bit of buck-passing and was blaming the city council for a number of things and wouldn't address a number of questions because they said well that's for the city council to answer.

'So we resolved as a committee to call the city council back and call the regional council back so we could hear from both of them at the same time.'