VUWSA and Te Herenga Waka (in partnership) provide free inter-campus bus passes to students!

VUWSA and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington are working in partnership to provide free Intercampus Passes for eligible students who need to travel between university campuses.

The Intercampus Pass programme supports students whose study, research, teaching, or other university activities require regular travel between campuses.

See below for access conditions

How do I receive a free bus pass?

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students may be eligible for an Intercampus Pass if they need to travel between campuses to attend classes or tutorials.

To apply, visit the VUWSA office and bring:

  • Your current study timetable showing your classes, campuses, and teaching days for the current trimester.

  • Your Student ID card.

You will only need to provide your timetable once per trimester when you first apply.

Current eligibility

Under the current rules, you are only eligible for an Intercampus Pass if you have classes or tutorials on two different campuses on the same day. If your classes are on different campuses but on separate days, you are not eligible.

What happens next?

VUWSA will review your timetable and confirm whether you meet the eligibility criteria. If approved, your access to the Intercampus Pass programme will be activated and you will be advised of any further requirements.

Important

  • You must carry your Student ID card when using the programme.

  • Eligibility is reviewed each year.

  • The Intercampus Pass programme and eligibility requirements are currently under review as part of work to introduce a new university timetabling system for 2027.

  • Eligibility criteria, access arrangements, and verification methods may change in future years.

Postgraduate Students

If you are a postgraduate student and need to travel between campuses for your study, research, teaching, or other university-related activities, you may be eligible for an Intercampus Pass.

Before you can access the Intercampus Pass system, your direct supervisor must complete the Postgraduate Intercampus Pass Supervisor Approval form. Student applications cannot be accepted directly.

Once your supervisor's request has been reviewed and approved:

  1. VUWSA will contact you.

  2. You will need to visit the VUWSA office to have an Intercampus Pass approval sticker applied to your Student ID card.

  3. Your Student ID card must have the approval sticker attached before you can use the programme.

👉 Ask your supervisor to complete the Postgraduate Intercampus Pass Supervisor Approval form to begin the process.

Important information

  • Approval is granted for one Intercampus Pass travel category only.

  • Approved students are limited to five return trips per week.

  • The approval sticker confirms your eligibility for the current year and must remain attached to your Student ID card.

  • The sticker is also used for future verification, so do not remove it from your Student ID card.

  • Approval must be renewed annually, and a new sticker may be required each year.

If you have technical issues with your Snapper card, we will likely not be able to fix them!
Please contact Snapper themselves.

Questions? We have answers

**What routes can I access under the Free Bus Pass Initiative?**
The One Zone 10-trip Snapper Pass is valid for travel from 7am to 7pm (Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays) on routes 4, 18, 21 and 22.

Not Available - The Two Zone 10-trip Snapper Pass is valid for travel from 7am to 7pm (Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays) on routes 1, 3, 4, 18 and 21.

Not Available - The Three Zone 10-trip Snapper Pass is valid for travel from 7am to 7pm (Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays) on routes 2, 4, 12e, 18, 21, 24 and 31x.

Not Available - The Four Zone 10-trip Snapper Pass is valid for travel from 7am to 7pm (Monday – Friday, excluding public holidays) on routes 4, 22, 81, 83 and 84.


**Where can I get the free 10 trip bus pass loaded onto my Snapper card?**
10-trip passes are issued from the VUWSA reception located on Level 4 of the Student Union Building in Kelburn (Victoria Campus) between 9-4pm Mon-Fri.

**I do not have a Snapper Card. Where can I get one and how much will it cost?**
You can purchase a Snapper card from the VUWSA Kelburn Office. The card will cost you $10. After you've purchased the Snapper Card, we will top it up with 10-free trips if you meet the eligibility criteria.

**Can I use the same Snapper card for personal and University use? Is there a way to keep my personal top-ups (from my own money) separate from my free passes from the University?**
If you use your Snapper card for personal reasons as well as travelling between classes, your free 10-trip bus pass account will only be deducted when you travel on the designated routes during term time. If you travel outside of your designated course-routes, your Snapper card will automatically revert and deduct trips from your personal account.