Public transport officials in Wellington are actively exploring the implementation of contactless payment options “as soon as possible,” as the completion of the troubled $1.4 billion Motu Move national ticketing system faces further delays, now expected to extend into 2027.

This push to integrate modern payment methods, including Paywave-type cards and smartphone wallets, into the existing system comes in response to the announcement of an additional year of delays for Motu Move.

A revised regional rollout plan for the nationwide payments system is currently under development and is anticipated to be released later this month.

Greater Wellington Regional Council transport committee chairperson Thomas Nash stated that the council aims to explore its options while remaining “committed” to the national system.

Contactless Payment Integration

“We know it can be done next year … It’s not so much a technical challenge for us,” said Nash, regarding the potential for introducing contactless payments to the existing system.

“We know it can be done next year … It’s not so much a technical challenge for us.”

Nash added, “if that can be done as part of early works for national ticketing, then that’d be great. if ther’s another way to do it through the existing provider, we could look at that.”

Auckland’s Contactless Model

According to Nash, Greater Wellington is considering a similar approach to Auckland, which introduced contactless payments through its HOP system last November with support from NZTA. He noted that Auckland’s contactless card readers are expected to be “compatible” with Motu move.

“If you were Auckland, right now, you’d be thinking, thank goodness we did that, because otherwise they would have been waiting quite a while,” he said.

Nash concluded, “Exactly the same rationale exists for Auckland’s transition to national ticketing, as does for us … It should be uncontroversial.”