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Taking the bus: transport cards and discounts

Regional council public transport services: Auckland Transport (AT), Metlink (Greater Wellington Regional Council), Metro (Canterbury Regional Council) and othersVerified Official pages checked daily

Each region in New Zealand runs its own public transport, so each city uses a different transport card. Auckland uses AT HOP. Wellington uses Snapper (Metlink). Christchurch is moving to Motu Move, the new national system. Many other regions use Bee Card. Children, students and Community Services Card holders can get discounts. SuperGold Card holders (65 and over) travel free at off-peak times. For most discounts, you need to load the concession onto a transport card. If you just tap your bank card, you usually pay the adult fare.

Key facts

Auckland: how to get a discounted fare
You must use a registered AT HOP card. You cannot get a discount if you tap a bank card or phone (contactless) or pay cash.1
Auckland: children (5–15)
40% off most buses, trains and ferries. Free on weekends and public holidays. (A registered AT HOP card is needed for both.)1
Auckland: under 5
Free when travelling with a paying passenger. They do not need their own AT HOP card.2
Auckland: secondary students (16–19) and tertiary students
Full-time secondary students aged 16–19 at school in Auckland, and full-time students at a registered Auckland tertiary institution: 40% off most buses, trains and ferries.1
Auckland: Community Connect (Community Services Card holders)
50% off most buses, trains and ferries, plus a free AT HOP card.1
Auckland: SuperGold
Free after 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays (you need an AT HOP card with the SuperGold concession loaded). Before 9am on weekdays you pay the adult fare.1
Auckland: fare cap
With an AT HOP card: capped at NZ$50 over 7 days. With contactless payment: capped at NZ$20 per day.2
Auckland: transfers
If you use the same card or phone, tag off, then board again within 30 minutes, and finish the whole journey within 4 hours, you pay only one fare for the whole trip.2
Auckland: which cards you can tap
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay. Buses do not take cash or EFTPOS.2
Wellington (Metlink): peak times
Buses: weekdays 7–9am and 3–6:30pm. Trains: weekdays before 9am and 3–6:30pm. At all other times (including weekends and public holidays) you get 20% off with a Snapper card (off-peak 20% discount).3
Wellington: tapping a bank card
For now you pay the adult single fare only, plus a 1.5% fee on each payment. For child, student and other discounts, passes or free transfers, you still need a Snapper card.3
Wellington: discounts
Under 5: free. School-age children: 50% off (Child Concession). Community Connect: 50% off. Full-time tertiary students: 25% off (Tertiary). One Snapper card can hold only one concession.3
Wellington: SuperGold free times
Monday to Friday 9am–3pm and from 6:30pm until the last service; all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Show your SuperGold Card.3
SuperGold free times (most of New Zealand)
Weekdays 9am–3pm and 6:30pm until the last service; all day on weekends and public holidays. Some regions require you to use the local transport card.4
Regions that use Bee Card
Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Otago, Invercargill. SuperGold users must load the concession onto a Bee Card to travel free. A Bee Card costs NZ$5.4
Auckland: gold AT HOP card for SuperGold
The card costs NZ$5, and you must top up at least NZ$1.4
Christchurch (Metro): how to pay now
You can tap a bank card or phone (Motu Move), use a Motu Move prepaid card, or use a Metrocard. Metrocard and cash stop being accepted from 23 November.5
Christchurch: fares
Standard bus fare NZ$3.00. Children (5–18) and Community Services Card holders NZ$1.50. Young people aged 19–24 NZ$2.50. Ages 0–4 free.5
Christchurch: fare cap
With Motu Move or Metrocard, you pay for a maximum of 2 trips per day and 10 trips per week (Monday to Sunday).5

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

How do I do it? Steps and process

  1. Get the local transport card

    Auckland: AT HOP card (buy online, at a customer service centre or at a retailer). Wellington: Snapper card. Christchurch: Motu Move card (sold at more than 100 retailers), or tap your bank card or phone. Other regions: most use Bee Card.

  2. Register your card and apply for a concession

    In Auckland, register your AT HOP card in your MyAT account, then choose your concession type under "Apply for a concession". For children, enter the correct date of birth. For Community Connect, enter your MSD client number. For SuperGold, enter your SuperGold Card number. In Wellington, load the concession onto your card on the Snapper website. A card can usually hold only one concession.

  3. Top up your card

    Child and student concessions are discounts, not monthly passes, so your card needs a balance. SuperGold users who may travel at peak times should also keep some money on the card.

  4. Tag on and tag off every time

    Tag on when you get on and tag off when you get off. If you forget to tag off, you may be charged a higher default fare. Take the card you want to use out of your wallet when you tag, so another card in your wallet is not charged by mistake.

  5. You can tap your bank card instead (but with no discounts)

    In Auckland and Wellington you can tap a bank card, phone or watch (contactless), but you pay the adult fare. You cannot get child, student, Community Connect or other discounts this way. In Christchurch (Metro), you can already link concessions to your bank card or phone.

What documents do I need?

What should I watch out for?

What has changed recently?

Common questions

What card do I need for buses in Auckland, and how much is an AT HOP card?

In Auckland you need an AT HOP card. You can buy one online, at a customer service centre or at a retailer. The gold AT HOP card for SuperGold Card holders costs NZ$5, and you must top up at least NZ$1. Community Services Card holders get a free AT HOP card with Community Connect. Ask Auckland Transport (AT) for the price of a standard card.

Can I pay for the bus in Auckland with my credit card or phone?

Yes. You can tap Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. You pay the adult fare and cannot get any discounts this way. Contactless payment is capped at NZ$20 per day. Buses do not take cash or EFTPOS.

Do kids pay for the bus in New Zealand? What age is free?

Children under 5 travel free. In Auckland, they must travel with a paying passenger. Each region sets its own fares. In Auckland, children aged 5–15 get 40% off and travel free on weekends and public holidays, with a registered AT HOP card. In Wellington, school-age children get 50% off. In Christchurch, children aged 5–18 pay NZ$1.50.

Is there a student discount on buses for university students?

Yes, for full-time tertiary students. In Auckland, students at a registered Auckland tertiary institution get 40% off most buses, trains and ferries. In Wellington, full-time tertiary students get 25% off. You need your student ID card or proof of enrolment. The concession must be loaded onto your transport card.

How much discount do I get on buses with a Community Services Card?

In Auckland and Wellington, you get 50% off with the Community Connect concession. In Auckland, you also get a free AT HOP card. In Christchurch, Community Services Card holders pay NZ$1.50 per bus trip. When you apply in Auckland, you need your MSD client number.

When can I travel free with a SuperGold Card if I am over 65?

In most of New Zealand, you travel free on weekdays from 9am to 3pm and from 6:30pm until the last service. You also travel free all day on weekends and public holidays. In Auckland, travel is free after 9am on weekdays. Some regions require the local transport card. Carry your SuperGold Card, or you pay the full adult fare.

What card do I use for buses in Wellington, and are peak and off-peak fares different?

In Wellington you use a Snapper card. Yes, fares are different. Bus peak times are weekdays 7–9am and 3–6:30pm. At all other times, including weekends and public holidays, you get 20% off with a Snapper card. If you tap a bank card, you pay the adult single fare plus a 1.5% fee.

Can I still use a Metrocard in Christchurch? What is Motu Move?

No. Metro buses and ferries no longer accept Metrocard or cash. Motu Move is the new national payment system. You can tap a bank card or phone, or use a Motu Move prepaid card, which is sold at more than 100 retailers. Metrocard balances cannot be moved to Motu Move. Metro says you will be able to apply online for a refund later.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

  1. Discounted faresAuckland Transport · at.govt.nz
  2. Bus and train faresAuckland Transport · at.govt.nz
  3. Tickets & faresMetlink (Greater Wellington Regional Council) · metlink.org.nz
  4. SuperGold Transport ConcessionsMinistry of Social Development (SuperGold) · supergold.govt.nz
  5. FaresMetro (Environment Canterbury / Canterbury Regional Council) · metroinfo.co.nz

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