About the former Route 25 bus service
Route 25 was a combined health shuttle and public transport service between Taumarunui and Hamilton. Operated by BUSIT, it was a joint initiative between Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Waikato and Waikato Regional Council.
The service was established to help patients from Taumarunui and surrounding communities travel to Hamilton for hospital and specialist appointments. Spare seats were also available to carers, support people and members of the public travelling for other purposes.
Over time, Route 25 became an important inter-regional transport link for Taumarunui, Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, Kihikihi and other communities along the route. It provided a reliable, affordable and accessible way to travel to Hamilton and return on the same day.
Why the combined service ended
Following a review, the combined health shuttle and public transport service ended on 26 June 2026.
The review found that the 40-seat bus was not well suited to passengers with health needs. It also identified safety and operational challenges associated with carrying health travellers and general public transport passengers on the same service.
Health NZ therefore moved to a dedicated health shuttle model. While Waikato Regional Council acknowledged the potential impact on affected communities, it advised that it was unable to establish an alternative public transport service or modify existing services to replace Route 25’s public transport function.
Survey on service demand
Since the Route 25 Health Shuttle/Public Transport ended in June, Mayor Weston Kirton has continued working with Horizons and Waikato regional councils to explore options for re-establishing an affordable, same-day return bus service between Taumarunui and Hamilton.
To support this work, we need clear evidence of community demand. Your feedback to the survey will help us understand what is needed to strengthen the case for restoring this important public transport connection.
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