Tap on, ride off: Contactless transport payments debut in Christchurch

Monday, 10 November 2025

Christchurch is the first to get the new Motu Move payment system for all public transport before it is rolled out across the country.

Contactless payment for public transport has launched in Canterbury - and so far it’s been smooth sailing.

The new system, Motu Move, enables bus, train and ferry users to ditch their Metrocards and instead use their debit, credit or digital cards to pay for standard fares.

Riders can pay digitally with Apple Pay and Google Pay on phones or smart watches.

The $1.3 billion dollar national project, which will expand to Greater Wellington in early 2027 and Auckland in late 2027, is a bid to get more Kiwis on public transport.

Canterbury, including Selwyn and the Waimakariri, was the first to get the contactless system, with it starting today.

Contactless payments can now be made on public transport around Canterbury.

Both a physical credit card and Apple Pay on a phone worked quickly when The Press put it to the test.

An Environment Canterbury spokesperson said the launch of the system had gone “smoothly, with no issues reported”.

Public transport users can still use their Metrocards, cash, or SuperGold cards - concession fares sill require them for now.

Concession fares through the Motu Move system is expected to be rolled out next year.

Bus users can now tap their cards or phones as they enter the bus.

The standard adult Metrocard fare remains $3 for buses or $5 for ferries.

Riders can still expect daily caps and free transfers between bus services and are encouraged to use the same card when getting on the bus each time. Motu Move automatically calculates the best fare for the day’s travel and charges it overnight.

There will be no extra charge when paying contactless, but customers may notice a temporary $0.10 pre-authorisation on their account after tagging onto the bus. It is used to verify the card and will be reimbursed overnight when the total fare is calculated.

More features are expected to be rolled out in Motu Move’s future phases, including a tag-on and tag-off system, a new Motu Move card for prepaid travel.