Feilding gets fully electric bus network from July 2026

Horizons Regional Council and Manawatū District Council have announced a fully electric bus network for Feilding and the wider Manawatū region, set to launch in July 2026.

The new contract, awarded to Tranzit, will operate two key services under the Services for Manawatū | Aorangi Feilding banner: a commuter link between Feilding and Palmerston North, and the Orbiter service within Feilding. Both services will run seven days a week with increased frequency compared to the current network.

Horizons Regional Council chair Rachel Keedwell says the electric fleet will cut more than 120,000 litres of annual diesel use while improving passenger access and frequency.

“This is a big step forward for public transport in our region. With a fully electric fleet, we’re not just improving access and frequency for passengers, we’re also cutting more than 120,000 litres of annual diesel use. That’s a win for our environment and our communities,” Keedwell says.

The move supports Horizons’ Regional Land Transport Plan goal of reducing emissions from land transport by 30% by 2030. Keedwell says electrifying the public transport fleet while improving frequency and route design will help achieve this target.

Service improvements and passenger demand

The commuter service will use large electric vehicle (EV) buses running between Feilding and Palmerston North from 6.30am to 8.00pm on weekdays, and 8.00am to 7.00pm on weekends, with increased frequency during peak times including school runs. The Orbiter will use smaller EV buses to circulate within Feilding, operating 8.00am to 7.00pm on weekdays and 9.00am to 6.30pm on weekends.

Mark Read, Horizons manager transport services, says the network reflects community feedback from two consultation phases. The Orbiter will extend into Feilding’s northern growth areas and maintain direct school services to Feilding High School and Palmerston North Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools.

The Feilding services carried more than 96,000 passengers in the past year, with children aged 5–18 making up 44% of all trips. The busiest trip in July 2025 saw 46 passengers on a single service to Feilding.

Infrastructure and operational changes

With buses set to travel approximately 305,000 kilometres per year, Tranzit will establish a local depot in Feilding to support EV charging and operations.

Tony Chettleburgh, Tranzit Coachlines Manawatū Manager, says the contract extends the company’s relationship with Horizons Regional Council and continues Tranzit’s electrification of public transport in regional New Zealand.

Dedicated Orbiter livery is being developed to help the community identify the around-town service, while other buses will feature the familiar Connect branding.

Keedwell says the partnership between Horizons and Manawatū District Council has been essential to developing a network that meets community needs while being workable from an infrastructure perspective.

“MDC does the infrastructure, and we do the buses – that approach doesn’t work if we don’t work well together,” she says.