Trams in New Zealand characterised by inflexible routes and expensive infrastructure maintenance. In Wellington there was significant opposition to the closure of the last tramway system in New Zealand, and the final decision to disestablish the remaining lines followed on a public referendum in 1959. All trolleybus systems in New Zealand have now been closed: Christchurch (1956), New Plymouth (1967), Auckland (1980), Dunedin (1982) and Wellington (2017). Auckland City had a private company operating horse-drawn trams from 1884. The Auckland Electric Tram Company's system was officially opened on 17 November 1902, but public service was delayed because three of the motormen, from Sydney, Australia,
New Zealand British Rail Mark 2 carriage New Zealand British Rail Mark 2 carriage The New Zealand British Rail Mark 2 carriages were built by British Rail Engineering Limited for British Rail in the early 1970s. From the mid-1990s, some were exported to New Zealand and after being rebuilt/refurbished and re-gauged, entered service. They are used on the Capital Connection (S class), owned and operated by KiwiRail Scenic; and on the Metlink Wairarapa Connection (SW/SWG/SWS class and SE/SEG/SES class), owned by Greater Wellington Regional Council and operated under contract by Tranz Metro. They were used on Auckland Transport commuter trains in Auckland (SA/SD class), operated under contract