"Simply Madness": Ruapehu Mayor Blasts Cancellation of Vital Taumarunui-Hamilton Bus Link

Mayor Weston Kirton labels the decision to scrap the Route 25 combined health and public transport service as "madness" amid rising fuel and living costs.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 4:36 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

A Critical Lifeline Severed

Route 25 has long served as a joint initiative between Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora) and Waikato Regional Council. It allowed public passengers to fill spare seats on hospital shuttles traveling between Taumarunui and Hamilton. Mayor Kirton argues the service is a "vital public transport link" for several isolated communities, including:

Taumarunui

Te Kūiti

Ōtorohanga

Kihikihi