Eastern Connector - Matamata extension review

If you live in or travel to the Matamata-Piako area, Waikato Regional Council wants your views on possible changes to the Matamata extension of the Eastern Connector bus service to and from Hamilton. We reviewed the service in 2023 following community requests for changes, escalating costs, and our annual performance review.

What does the service look like now?

The Eastern Connector makes seven return trips between Morrinsville and Hamilton each weekday and three return trips on weekend days and public holidays. Six of the weekday trips extend further to Paeroa (once per weekday), Te Aroha and Matamata (both three trips per weekday).

Concerns with cost of the Matamata leg

The Matamata leg of the service requires an extra bus that only operates the 3.30pm return trip between Morrinsville and Hamilton. This trip carries mainly secondary school students and occasional high demand requires an assist bus used only for this leg. A bus costs about $90,000 to $110,000 per year.

The Matamata leg averages 30 passengers on weekdays (around $17 per passenger), with midday service having the lowest average of six people per trip. By comparison, the Morrinsville-Hamilton service averages 94 passengers per weekday ($11 per passenger).

We shared our preferred option with Matamata-Piako District Councillors at a workshop in September 2023 and we presented the options to the Regional Transport Committee at its December 2023 and April 2024 meetings.

What are we asking you?

We now want your views, which you can submit through the linked survey. The change removes the midday service to Matamata departing Hamilton at 1pm and the 3.10pm Matamata to Hamilton trip, but retains the morning and late afternoon services. The change also adds a midday trip from Morrinsville to Hamilton (departing at 1.55pm) and removes the 4.00pm trip from Morrinsville to Hamilton (as this was the Matamata bus).

This timetable change will save around $140,000 per year.