“154 Transitional provision for existing contracted public transport services

• “(1) A public transport service provided under contract to the regional council before the commencement of this section may continue to be provided by that operator under that contract, until the expiry of that contract.

  “(2) A regional council may contract for public transport services in accordance with the regional public transport plan, made under the Public Transport Management Act 2008, until the regional council has adopted a regional public transport plan under subpart 1 of Part 5 of this Act. Any such contract ends at the earlier of the following:

  • “(a) the date of expiry of the contract:

  • “(b) 30 June 2017.

  “(3) If a public transport service operating as if it were a registered exempt service under section 151(2) ceases to operate in a region, the regional council may contract for the provision of that service to operate, with or without modification, until no later than 30 June 2017.