A reduced bus timetable will operate for at least one month in Dunedin and Queenstown, starting next Tuesday.
The council said reduced bus services had become necessary as an already short-staffed fleet of drivers were knocked back by Covid-19 and winter illnesses, causing a flurry of cancellations.
The threshold for moving to a new bus schedule had been set at 10% of buses cancelled over three working days.
It was not clear yesterday the scale of the announced reduction in services.
However, transport manager Doug Rodgers said the new timetable would maintain buses at key times as far as possible.
"The move will mean some reductions to the service, but should mean far fewer cancellations and allow for a more reliable service for passengers," Mr Rodgers said.
"We have reviewed timetables with our transport providers to ensure our school services remain operational."
The council extended its bus routes to help children get to school earlier this year, after commercial Dunedin bus company Otago Road Services ceased operation late last year in a move that left many pupils without a means of getting to school.
The reduced bus timetable would be in place seven days a week in Queenstown, the council said in a statement yesterday.
In Dunedin, the reduced timetable would only operate on weekdays, with weekend buses running as normal.
Updated timetable information would be available on the council website from today, the council said.
Timetable information could also be found on the Transit App and on electronic signage at the Dunedin bus hub.
The council urged people to check the updated timetables before setting out on their trip in case of further cancellations.
The Orbus Dunedin and Queenstown Facebook pages would also carry any major updates about the networks, the council said.
