Find ‘alternative’ travel in March
North Auckland ferry-goers are weighing in on social media after a recent announcement they may have to find another way to and from the city.
360 Discovery put out a flyer on February 7 advising residents to expect a possible increase in commuters during March, and that the 8am and 5.15pm Hobsonville/Beach Haven services may be full.
It recommends customers wait for either the next service or find alternative travel.
Hobsonville Point resident Emma Booth said when the flyers were handed out in person, she initially thought the announcement was about getting more ferries.
‘‘I think we just feel like we’re not being listened to, even though we’ve had surveys done and that, no one’s actually realising we do need this.’’
Since the announcement, the 6.55am service had become busier as people worried they might miss out on the 8am service, Booth said.
Another resident Chris Reid said he had noticed since 2018, the service had become ‘‘noticeably’’ busier, sometimes with up to eight people using make-shift seats on peak services.
A lot of people buying houses at the Point had been sold on a ferry commute to the city, and the increasing population didn’t seem to have been accounted for, he said.
Both Booth and Reid purchase a monthly ferry pass, which is $250.
There are currently only two morning and three afternoon sailings from Hobsonville Point, finishing at 8am and 6.15pm.
The Discovery II has 79 seats, but can hold up to 99 passengers in total. Currently, each of the two morning services has around 70 passengers.
AT spokesman James Ireland said they are planning ahead for all eventualities, but it is unlikely that the ferry will reach capacity in March. However, he said it will be busier than usual, so there’s a chance some passengers might not get a seat.
In an online statement, AT said it was still reviewing the options for providing additional ferry services and capacity.
The main constraint is vessel availability within the current fleet, which serves Auckland’s ferries, and also funding availability to allow any such service increase to be delivered, the statement said.