9 April 2026
File Ref: OIAPR-1274023063-49339
Miss M Quicken
By email:
[FYI request #34331 email]
Tēnā koe Miss Quicken
Request for information 2026-147
I refer to your request for information dated 1 April 2026, which was received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) on 1 April 2026. You have requested the
following:
“Four things A, B, C & D relating to Metlink advertising revenue.
Please share the aggregate figures that Metlink has raised through advertising through public
transport network e.g. bus livery etc.
A) From the current FY
B) And the previous FY
C) What percentage of A) and B) was "internal" from WCC / GRWC Controlled organisations
In addition please provide
D) The impact / strategy document/s setting out or outlining the advertising (whether revenue or
not) strategy for the current FY.
I'm trying to understand, given GRWC is raising fares but is seemingly not leveraging the
advertising aspect of the central government Private share provisions.
I really would like to understand if the council is doing anything re: economic development over
promoting it's internal where the council is doing business with itself and treating them as book
entries across the related entities / associated councils.”
Wellington office
Upper Hutt
Masterton office
0800 496 734
PO Box 11646
PO Box 40847
PO Box 41
www.gw.govt.nz
Manners St, Wel ington
1056 Fergusson Drive
Masterton 5840
[Wellington Regional Council request email]
6142
Greater Wellington’s response follows:
Your request has been assessed under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 (the Act).
A & B: Aggregate advertising revenue for the current and previous financial years
Greater Wellington holds advertising revenue information for the public transport network,
including bus and rail assets.
For the 2024–25 financial year, total advertising revenue (GST exclusive) was:
Mode
Revenue (GST excl.)
Rail
$ 941,186
Bus
$1,523,066
Total
$2,464,252
This total aligns closely with the budget forecast of approximately $2.5 million for that year.
For the 2025–26 financial year, the budget forecast for advertising revenue is approximately
$2.55 million. Actual revenue for the current year will be reported in the 2025–26 Annual Report
once the financial year has concluded.
C: Percentage of advertising revenue that is “internal”
For Financial Year 2024/25, advertising gross revenue from Greater Wellington, its Council
Controlled Organisations, and Wellington City Council accounted for 2.46% of total gross
advertising revenue. For Financial Year 2025/26, the year-to-date figure is 1.47% of total gross
advertising revenue.
D: Advertising strategy or impact documents for the current financial year
Greater Wellington does not hold a standalone document setting out the advertising impact or
strategy for the current financial year. This is because the advertising function is outsourced to
a third-party provider, Go Media, while our role is primarily that of network owner and contract
manager, including monitoring service delivery and performance against agreed KPIs.
Therefore, we are refusing this part of your request under section 17(g) of the Act in that the
information requested is not held by the local authority and the person dealing with the request
has no grounds for believing that the information is either—
Page 2 of 3
(i)
held by another local authority or a department or Minister of the Crown or
organisation; or
(ii)
connected more closely with the functions of another local authority, or a
department or Minister of the Crown or organisation.
Comment regarding fare setting and “private share” provisions
You asked why fares are increasing when advertising revenue exists, and whether Greater
Wellington is leveraging advertising opportunities to reduce pressure on fare‑paying
passengers.
In the 2024–25 financial year, advertising revenue was approximately $2.5 million, representing
less than 1% of total operating funding for public transport. While advertising revenue
contributes to offsetting costs, it is not of a scale that materially changes the overall funding
requirements for the network.
Through the annual fares review, Council considers all sources and applications of revenue,
including third‑party revenue streams that may reduce the need for additional funding from
fares or rates. Further detail on operating funding sources can be found in the 2024–25 Annual
Report (pages 92–93):
www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Documents/2025/11/2024-25-
Greater-Wellington-Annual-Report-Interactive.pdf
The 2026 annual fares review (Report 26.30) is available here:
www.gw.govt.nz/document/24055/council-19-february-2026-order-paper/
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to
request an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where appropriate. Our response to your request will be published shortly on Greater
Wellington’s website with your personal information removed.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Paul Tawharu
Kaiwhakahaere Matua Waka-ā-atea | Group Manager Metlink (Acting)
Page 3 of 3
