 The health buses are mainly funded by the District Health Board and link Waikato Hospital to most of the regions towns and some outside the region, such as Taumarunui.From February 2017 University of Waikato is using car parking fees to subsidise student fares by 30% and provide new bus links to Tokoroa, Putāruru, Ngāruawāhia, Huntly, Te Kauwhata, Thames, Piopio, Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Matamata, Coromandel, Whitianga and Whangamata.Public transport in Waikato started with ships and boats serving rivers, coastal beaches and ports.