Starting Sunday, November 17, Aucklanders can pay for bus, train, and ferry rides with contactless payments.
This means riders can use a credit or debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch to tag on and off public transport. While the AT HOP card is still accepted and needed for discounts and fare caps, contactless payments make it easy to pay the standard adult fare without preloading a card.
Auckland Transport has updated card readers across the city to support the new payment option. This change is part of a larger plan to introduce a national public transport ticketing system, beginning in Canterbury next year and expanding to Auckland in 2026.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson called contactless payment a “gamechanger” for Auckland. She said it removes the hassle of managing an AT HOP card and is especially helpful for visitors who might find it challenging to get a local transit card. “This is just tap and go,” she said, making public transport easier and more convenient.
Jon Reeves from the Public Transport Users Association agreed, saying the new system could speed up boarding and attract more people to use public transport. He added that this change might particularly benefit tourists who can now use their own cards instead of needing an AT HOP card.
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