You can now pay a standard adult fare on all Metro services with your contactless debit or credit card, mobile phone or smart watch. There is no surcharge when using these new payment methods.
Metrocards and cash fares can still be used to board Metro services.
See our Motu Move page for more information on the wider rollout of the National Ticketing Solution in Canterbury.
Payment methods
Credit/debit cards
The new card readers can take payments from contactless debit or credit cards. All Visa, Mastercard or American Express cards are accepted.
If your card has a microchip or contactless symbol, and you use contactless payments elsewhere, then you’re good to go!
Mobile payments
You can also tag on with Apple Pay and Google Pay on your phone or device.
See the following webpages for more information on how to set up these payments on your device.
More questions about payments?
For more information on payments and how they are processed, please see the Motu Move website.
Community Services Card and SuperGold concessions
If you have a Community Services or SuperGold concession, you can now choose to link it to a contactless payment option. Linking your concession will ensure you pay your usual Community Services discounted fare or get SuperGold free travel when boarding using contactless payment.
You can keep using your SuperGold or Metrocard for now if you prefer. We’ll let you know when you need to switch to Motu Move.
Follow these easy steps to link your concession
1. Go to motumove.govt.nz and create an account
2. Add a credit or debit card to your account
3. Link your concession to your credit or debit card – you’ll need your Community Services or SuperGold card number to do this.
If you are a SuperGold cardholder and you also have a Community Services Card, you can link both concessions to ensure you get the best fare every time you travel by completing this step again.
4. Tag on using your chosen card or device
Choose the contactless card or device you would like to use when you travel and ensure you use this card or device the first time you tag on so your concession is applied.
What you need to know
- Concessions can only be linked to one card or device when using contactless payment
- When you tag on for the first time after your concession is approved, make sure you use the card or device you will use every time you travel. Your concession will be linked to this card or device.
- Continue to use this card or device every time you travel to ensure you get your concession fare.
Further help with Motu Move concessions
Check the Motu Move website for more information. If you’d like help with linking your Community Services Card or SuperGold travel concession to a contactless payment card, call the Motu Move team on 0800 66 77 88 (Monday – Friday 8am – 5.30pm).
Child fares and other concessions
Continue to use your Metrocard if you usually pay a Metrocard child/youth fare or Total Mobility concession.
If you’re a SuperGold card holder, you can continue to show your SuperGold card after 9AM on weekdays or anytime on weekends to ride for free.
Outside of these times, SuperGold cardholders can pay using their credit or debit card, Metrocard, or cash.
If paying by credit or debit card, we recommend linking your SuperGold concession to your card via the Motu Move website so you are not charged during free SuperGold hours.
Important information about contactless payments
Use the same payment method when transferring
Contactless payments support free transfers within a 2-hour period. Make sure you use the same contactless payment method in order to receive your free transfers.
No need to tag off yet
You don’t need to tag off yet. Tagging off on will be implemented once Motu Move is rolled out in full next year. We will provide more information well in advance of any changes.
Travelling with friends or family
Please note that you cannot tag on twice with the same contactless payment method. If you need to pay for multiple people, you must use a different card or device for each person. See our Ways to Pay page for more information.
Alternatively, you can use Metrocard or cash to pay for multiple people.
Fare caps
Current daily and weekly fare caps still apply when paying with contactless payments as long as you tag on with the same card or device for every trip.
For more information on fare caps, please visit our fares page.
Stay updated
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Questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions page about the switch to Motu Move.
If you have any questions about Motu Move ticketing and payments, contact the Motu Move Customer Care Team via online form or by calling 0800 66 77 88 (8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday — excluding public holidays).
If you have a question about Metrocard or Metro services, please contact Metroinfo on metro@ecan.govt.nz or 03 366 88 55.