Green Party announced their policy for free public transport for students last month.
Any university or higher education student will be given a ‘Student Green Card’.
The card allows free trips on trains, buses and ferries during off-peak hours between 9 am to 3 pm and after 6.30 pm on weekdays. It also includes free public transport during weekends and public holidays.
The policy will impact on 350,000 students in New Zealand. Most students will save up to $30 and $40 a week on transport costs. The policy needs to be supported by other parties to pass. It will cost the government $22 million to $28 million a year.
Many students say they will support the Green Party in the coming election because of this policy.
Vocabulary
• policy (n) – plan or idea of an individual, government or organizations
• Green Party (n) – name of political party in New Zealand
• off-peak hours (adj) – the least busiest time, the opposite word is ‘high-peak hours’ – busiest time
• impact – have an effect on
Thanks to Hannah Choi for this contribution.