Anglicans in our diocese and throughout the country have been a driving force behind the Free Fares campaign, which is advocating for free public transport for Community Services Card Holders, under-25s, and students nationwide. On 17 March the campaign group will present their petition of nearly 10,000 to the Minister for Transport, asking that Free Fares will be funded in this year’s budget.

“The campaign began last year in Wellington, when a group of Christians, students and climate activists discovered we were united by the same idea,” said Mika Hervel, a university student at Saint Michael’s Kelburn. “We realised that free public transport for disadvantaged groups presents a key opportunity for social and environmental justice.”

Several young Wellington Anglicans became key organisers. This video, made during the Season of Creation last year, profiles the beginning of their story.

Five months on, numerous Anglican groups are among the 60+ organisations who support the campaign, including Wellington and Christchurch City Missions, The Freestore and individual churches.

Rose Robinson, who leads Blueprint Church, shared, “Backing this campaign is an act of worship – a way I can follow Jesus’ call to love those in my neighbourhood and to care for the planet that God loves.”

The Anglican Trust for Women and Children, a social service provider in Auckland, shared that, “Free public transport for the whānau we work with would be life changing. It would break down systemic barriers that currently exist for the most vulnerable in society and open up limitless possibilities in the future.”

The campaign has also enabled Anglicans across the country to work together, with Anglicans from Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch now active members of the organising team.

Nathan Hughes from Nelson Diocese commented, “I support free fares because it's a beautiful initiative dreamed up by young people who love Jesus and are passionate about climate change. By supporting their efforts we’ll (hopefully) see emissions reduced in our neighbourhoods and public transport made accessible to all.”

Jolyon White, Director of Anglican Advocacy in Christchurch, shared, “[Free fares is] about longer-term attitude and behaviour change, and that’s what we desperately need for addressing climate change. But mostly for me it’s because the cost of living and housing is causing desperation for an increasing number of people. …Free Fares makes moving around the city fair. ...Rebates on electric vehicles is good, but it’s the poorest contributing to the richest transport option. Free fares balances that out.”

If you want to join this call for public transport equity, you can sign and share the petition this week, or email freefaresnz@gmail.com if you’d like to get further involved.

By Hana Pilkinton-Ching