Canterbury commuters gain access to new Motu Move payment system
Wednesday 23 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Chris Bishop
Canterbury bus passengers can now purchase Motu Move cards, marking the latest stage of a national public transport payment rollout. The system will eventually allow consistent payment methods across New Zealand. Transport Minister Chris Bishop defended the project despite previous delays to the $1.4bn initiative.
Key facts
4 facts
- Motu Move is a national public transport ticketing system designed to replace regional cards.
- The current target for nationwide operation is the end of 2027.
- The project cost is estimated at $1.4 billion.
- More than two million trips have been completed using the system in Canterbury.
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Canterbury commuters can now purchase prepaid Motu Move cards as the new public transport payment system enters its next stage. Passengers can also link child, youth, and accessibility concessions to the system or use contactless bank cards and phones.
The Motu Move project aims to provide a single national ticketing solution to replace various regional systems. Transport Minister Chris Bishop stated the plan is for the system to be operational across New Zealand by the end of 2027.
The rollout schedule includes Invercargill before the end of this year, followed by Greater Wellington in mid-2027 and Auckland at the end of 2027. The project has faced delays, with a previous 2026 target being described as overly ambitious.
In Greater Christchurch, SuperGold cardholders will soon face changes to free travel. While they will continue to travel free between 9am and 3pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, they must now pay fares on weekdays between 3pm and 6.30pm.
How it developed
- Wed 23 Sep, 7:00pmThe report specifies the rollout sequence for Invercargill, Greater Wellington, and Auckland.
Where reports differ
- One report notes the project was initially intended to launch in Timaru in December 2024, while another mentions the 2026 target was pushed to 2027 due to complexity.
Compiled from reports by Stuff and 1News.