Motu Move

What's Motu Move?

We're making it easier to use public transport in New Zealand with new ways to pay. Motu Move is a ticketing and payment system providing easy, consistent ways to pay for buses, trains and ferries across Aotearoa.

By making payments easier, we’ll encourage more people to use public transport more often.

New ways to pay for public transport in NZ
Simply tag on and off with your chosen card or device
Proven technology
Safe and convenient
Use on bus, train and ferry
National system, local fares

Motu Move has been created through the National Ticketing Solution programme which is a partnership between NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and 13 Public Transport Agencies across the country. Having a single national solution provides the country with better technology at a lower cost than we can with the current regional systems.

Each region will still manage their own fares, timetables, journey planning and transport operators.

Motu Move in Greater Christchurch

We're rolling out Motu Move in stages, starting with contactless payments in Greater Christchurch.

Using Motu Move in Greater Christchurch

You can now use contactless payments to pay for standard adult Metro bus and ferry services.
You can still use your Metrocard or cash if you prefer.
If you have a concession, keep using your Metrocard or SuperGold card for now.
No tag off needed.

Motu Move rolling out in Greater Christchurch

There are now more ways to pay for bus and ferry services in Christchurch City, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
Motu Move is introducing contactless payments to Metro, making it easier for everyone to use public transport, including visitors to the city and casual users.
You can pay standard non-concession adult Metro fares with your debit or credit card, phone or smart watch, alongside the existing Metrocard and cash payment options. This is the first stage of the Motu Move rollout.
There are no transaction fees, and you pay the same standard non-concession adult fare as you would using a Metrocard.
Motu Move is safe and secure.
Each stage of the rollout of Motu Move will introduce more customer features and ways to pay for public transport.

Available now

Contactless payments for standard adult Metro fares only, using a debit or credit card, phone or watch.

Available in 2026

Prepaid Motu Move cards.
Enabling all travel concessions on contactless payment and prepaid Motu Move cards.
Metrocard and cash will be removed from all bus and ferry services – we’ll let you know when.

Motu Move - National Ticketing Solution (Metro Christchurch)(external link)

Using contactless payment on bus and ferry services

If you pay a standard adult fare, the easiest way to pay is to tag on using your card with a contactless symbol, or mobile wallet app on your phone or watch.

Top tips

Pay as you go.
Ready to use – just tag on with your contactless card or device.
Same fare as a Metrocard.
Use the same card or device each time, to make the best of fare caps.
Safe and secure.
No transaction fees or surcharges.

Motu Move in Greater Christchurch

Motu Move across NZ

Motu Move will rollout region-by-region across New Zealand. When this happens, you will be able choose to pay for your fare using a:

contactless debit or credit card or device
prepaid Motu Move card
pre-buy a ticket.

No transaction fees for contactless cards.

All payment methods will have the same fare.

Add concessions to any card or device.

Upcoming dates

Mid 2026: introduction of prepaid Motu Move cards
Early 2027: Greater Wellington
Late 2027: Auckland

We’re planning to roll out in smaller regions between 2026 and 2027. We’re taking a flexible approach and may move larger regions earlier to align with other priorities. As rollout gets closer and dates are confirmed, we’ll communicate timeframes at a regional level.

As part of their transition to Motu Move, Auckland Transport offer contactless payments, in addition to HOP cards, to customers on their current system. This will make their integration to Motu Move in 2026 easier.

Motu Move is expected to be operational throughout New Zealand by the end of 2027.

For now, keep using your local public transport websites

For information on current services, fares and timetables, visit your usual regional public transport site, and to watch out for local updates on plans for bringing Motu Move to your region.

More information

Motu Move in Greater Christchurch

Find out more about the rollout of Motu Move in Greater Christchurch and how to use contactless payments.

Motu Move in Greater Christchurch

Motu Move online enquiry

If you have a question about Motu Move ticketing and payments, tell us what you need help with on this form and we'll be in touch within 3 working days.

Motu Move contact form