Wellington transport officers finally get app to check contactless fares

Metlink has closed a technological loophole that allowed fare dodgers to get free train rides in Wellington.

In April, when Metlink moved to a system where people could pay public transport fares with debit cards, credit cards, mobile devices or smart watches, its transport officers had no way to check if passengers tagged on with their debit or credit cards or contactless devices.

A Greater Wellington Regional Council spokesperson confirmed last week it had fully developed, tested and rolled out an app on 220 devices for conductors to check devices, debit or credit cards. Live pilot testing began from mid-May.

"We will have a full complement of revenue protection staff able to check fares across Snapper, debit and credit cards, and smart devices."

Chairperson Daran Ponter said in late April the change meant passengers using payment cards and smart devices got a "token" which the conductor's app checks for, and it would not give out bank account details. The problem was known before the roll-out but authorities hoped an "honesty-based" system would make it a non-issue.

Wellington's move to contactless payments was a stopgap before a nationwide system - Motu Move - takes over next year.

When Auckland moved to contactless payment in November 2024, it faced the same challenges and the technology didn't arrive about a year later. An Auckland Transport spokesperson said free riders only made up a "couple of percent" of all public transport users.

Public Transport Users Association national co-ordinator Jon Reeves said he alerted a Greater Wellington Regional councillor to the issue via Facebook.

He knew about it because Auckland faced the same issue.

"It is a bit of a concern as rate and tax payers will be ripped off by free riders," he said.

Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.