Bee Cards will be phased out and replaced by Motu Move on Whanganui public transport.
Bee Cards will be phased out and replaced by Motu Move on Whanganui public transport.
Whanganui could switch to the new nationwide public transport ticketing system - Motu Move - by the end of the year.
Bee Card has been used in Whanganui since 2019 with 2624 cards in use last year, but they will be phased out for Motu Move.
Motu Move is a ticketing and payment system created to provide easy, consistent ways to pay for buses and trains New Zealand-wide.
Horizons transport services manager Mark Read estimates the new system will be available in late 2025.
“It’s an exciting change across the country to be able to move to a single-ticketing system, it will provide a consistent service to our customers across the country,” Read said.
“The benefits will be massive and allow customers to show up anywhere in the country and get on public transport via their Motu Move card - it will be great for them.”
Anthonie Tonnon, Whanganui District Council representative on Horizons Regional Council’s passenger transport committee, said the introduction of Motu Move could be a positive.
“It’s going to help in the future as we get more connected with other regions,” Tonnon said.
“It may also be one less barrier for people who aren’t big bus users, with getting on the bus in the first place.
“I’ve always resisted us getting rid of cash on our buses because it is not easy enough to get a Bee card in the Horizons region.
“I think we can’t afford to do away with cash, we’ll just exclude too many users.
“If we were moved to a system where we had paywave, I would then be more open to reducing cash transactions on our buses because it would speed up bus travel - less waiting time at each stop.”
The Tide bus service in Whanganui.
The first to trial Motu Move will be Canterbury.
Tonnon said being one of the latter regions to get Motu Move could be positive.
“We are going to be doing this probably last in the bunch and that is hopefully a good thing. Hopefully, any kinks should be ironed out,” he said.
“One of my big concerns is often these smart technologies end up being proprietary technologies and end up being very expensive.
“It’s not a silver bullet, it’s a real good thing to have but it won’t make a big difference to how many people are on the bus unless it’s combined with better service.”
Read said the Motu Move won’t be the only option in the region.
“All the benefits we have in our region with still being able to use cash and having the same concessions, be it for SuperGold members and students, will remain the same but also have the benefits of that national system,” he said.
