Canterbury will be the first region in Aotearoa to roll out the much anticipated new National Ticketing Solution, named Motu Move!
Motu Move is a national programme that will provide a range of easy-to-use payment methods that customers can use for all public transport across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Canterbury was one of the first regions in New Zealand to roll out contactless transport cards on our buses and ferries with Metrocard more than 20 years ago. Now it’s time for our payment system to lead the way again, and over the next year our region will be first to roll out Motu Move!
More ways to pay
Motu Move will give customers more options when paying for public transport:
- Contactless debit or credit cards
- Digital payments on mobile phones and smart watches (including Apple Pay and Google Pay)
- A prepaid Motu Move card that will work similar to the current Metrocard
Following a decision by Council last year, cash will no longer be accepted on Canterbury’s public transport once the new system goes live. Customers can continue to use cash on Metro services until the launch of the Motu Move.
Learn more about the decision to remove cash payments, and what the Motu Move alternatives will be in the Metro decision to go cashless section.
When is it coming?
Motu Move will launch first in Timaru in early 2025, followed by our Metro network Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
We will have more details for you in the coming months. For now, please continue to board and pay for your Metro services as you currently do. You can of course still order new and replacement Metrocards through our usual channels.
For more information on Motu Move in Timaru, see our Timaru Page.
Testing new payments on Route 29
From 8 December, we started testing a key part of the new payment system on Route 29 (Airport – City) from December to help make sure things go smoothly once we rollout the new system.
You can pay a standard adult fare ($2) on Route 29 with your contactless debit or credit card, mobile phone or smart watch. You can still use your Metrocard to access concessions. Cash fares are also available during this pilot.
Getting our buses ready
Our buses are now undergoing preparation for the new Motu Move equipment to be fitted onto vehicles closer to go-live.
While most of this work won’t be visible, customers may begin to notice new poles and a box-shaped attachment appearing at the front and rear doors on some of our buses.
These are where the readers will eventually be that customers will use to tag on and off with their card or device once Motu Move is live in their area.
Please continue to tap your card on the Metrocard reader like normal until Motu Move is live.
Poles are installed at the rear of buses as Motu Move will require passengers to “tag off” when getting off the bus. Tagging off is common on public transport elsewhere in New Zealand and around the world and ensures customers are charged the correct fare.
It will also provide us with more accurate data about how people are using public transport and help in planning service improvements where they are needed.
Metrocards
Metrocards will no longer work after Motu Move has launched.
You will instead be able to switch to using other payment methods such as a contactless credit or debit card or the new prepaid Motu Move card.
You will be able to receive a refund for any balance remaining on your Metrocard and more information will be released about this closer to the launch. We will make sure everyone knows about any actions they need to take well in advance.
Metro decision to go cashless
In 2023, Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) approved a recommendation to remove cash from the Metro network when the National Ticketing Solution is implemented. This means that cash will no longer be accepted on public transport in Canterbury when the new ticketing system is launched.
This is part of a network safety project and with the increase of on-bus safety incidents, Metro operators have advocated removing cash from the network from a staff safety and overall welfare perspective.
Tickets will be able to be pre-purchased with cash from the bus interchange, and you can get or top up a prepaid Motu Move card with cash at the interchange, other service centres, and through an extended network of retail outlets. More information and support on payment options for customers that prefer to pay with cash will be provided closer to launch
Customers can continue to use cash on Metro services until the launch of Motu Move.
For more information see our press release, which followed the decision.
Other regions to follow
All other regions around New Zealand will follow in rolling out the new Motu Move system. Customers will then be able to use this single payment system on all public transport in all regions of New Zealand that have joined the NTS.
Find out more about Motu Move and the National Ticketing Solution programme on the NZTA website.
How is Motu Move funded?
The National Ticketing programme, Motu move, is being funded by the central government and led by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. This includes funding for new infrastructure such as ticket readers on our buses and ferries.
More information
Check out the following links for more information about Motu Move and the National Ticketing Solution programme.
- Switching to Motu Move FAQs
- Environment Canterbury Media release – 11 June 2024
- About Motu Move
- NZTA National Ticketing Solution programme updates
Progress updates
8 December 2024
We've started testing new contactless payments on Route 29 (Airport - City)! See the Route 29 pilot page for more information.
10 October 2024
Testing new ways to pay on Route 29
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to make the switch to Motu Move once it is ready. To help with this we’ll be testing a key part of the new payment system on one bus route in Christchurch from December.
From early December, on Route 29 (Airport – City) you will be able to pay a standard adult fare ($2) with your contactless debit or credit card, mobile phone or smart watch. You will still be able to use your Metrocard to access concessions. Cash fares will also continue to be available during the pilot.
Route 29 is the most direct route from the Airport to the city, also connecting North West Christchurch to the city, passing through Memorial Avenue and Fendalton Road then through to the central city bus interchange via Victoria and Manchester Streets.
We’ll have more information available in the next couple of months as we get ready to launch the pilot. Stay tuned!
Update to rollout schedule
As a result of the pilot, we now expect Motu Move to roll out first in Timaru in early 2025, followed by Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
The pilot in December is small scale and only one part of the new payment system. Timaru will still be the first place in Aotearoa to roll out Motu Move, followed by the rest of Canterbury.
Metro customers will continue to use their current payment methods such as Metrocard and cash until the switch to the Motu Move payment system next year.