New RWC pay cards not just for rugby, says sponsor

Alfred Naffah, country manager for Mastercard holds up the rugby debit card - the only one that will be allowed for purchases at RWC stadiums. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Fans at the Rugby World Cup will need either cash or a special new MasterCard 'tap and go' card to buy food and drinks at the tournament, organisers have revealed.

And while ATMs will be available at all venues, Eftpos facilities will only be available at Eden Park in Auckland and Westpac Stadium in Wellington, but only for cards with MasterCard's PayPass technology.

But Rugby World Cup spokesman Mike Jaspers told Radio New Zealand the arrangement is an improvement on the current situation.

"Eftpos is currently not available at stadia around the country," he said. "We've looked at it. Our commitment is really to make sure we provide the best possible service to fans and that means the quickest possible service and to achieve that, using cash or the MasterCard tap and go cards will ensure fans will get the quick service that they expect when they are queuing for their food and drink."

The new RWC 2011 MasterCard ANZ prepaid card include a micro chip so for purchases under $80 users simply have to hover the card over a terminal rather than swipe it.

The cards will be available across the country for around $5 to $10, and can be loaded with up to $1000. However once the credit has been spent a new card will need to be purchased.

The new cards will be able to be purchased by anyone - not just MasterCard customers.

MasterCard has defended criticism about the cards, which they say will be able to be used outside of the World Cup venues as well, at anywhere MasterCards are accepted, well into next year.

The company's country manager Albert Naffah said PayPass said the new card will be quicker and more convenient for cardholders than cash and will allow merchants to serve more people at peak times.

"Not only will fans now have a choice about how they want to pay but they will also have the option to use a more convenient, faster and secure payment service during RWC2011 and for future stadium events.

"PayPass helps reduce the delays caused by queuing or searching for change and, with consumers already noticing the benefits, we believe it will be available across a large number of retailers in the next couple of years."

Massey University senior lecturer in banking Claire Matthews told Radio New Zealand she does not believe New Zealanders will warm to the new method of payment.

With New Zealanders among the world's biggest users of Eftpos, she questioned why organisers would opt for ATMs at venues rather than terminals.

"It is a much less efficient option, it also create much more security risk because you have to have the cash there, you have to deal with the cash - if you can have Eftpos terminals that everyone can use you don't have to worry about cash, there's a lot more security and a lot more convenient."