TRANSPORT

Motu Move: National Ticketing Solution

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · National / Multi-region

The $1.36b shown here is whole-of-life, not capital. It is the total disclosed programme cost over fifteen years: $527.8m to design and build the system, and the balance to operate it through to 2037. Most values in this register are capital only, so this figure is not directly comparable with them and should not be read as $1.36b of construction. What it buys is one contactless fare system for every bus, train and ferry in the country, replacing the regional card schemes with a single account that works nationwide. NZTA leads it alongside the regional public transport authorities, with Cubic holding the delivery contract. Greater Christchurch went live on 10 November 2025, after a Route 29 pilot from December 2024 and a run of delays that prompted an independent review and a reset. Remaining regions follow through 2026 and 2027.

Strongest delivery signals Data: High

Delivery Confidence Score, 0 to 100, higher is better: a ranking of how strong this project's delivery signals are, not a probability. It blends eight factors, including the election risk and policy alignment shown below.

Breakdown▾

Data current as at 16 Sept 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.

Key facts

Region: National / Multi-region
Sector: Transport
Status: Under Construction
Estimated value: $1.4b
Indicative completion: 2027
Funding status: Fully Funded
Lead organisation: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Election risk: Low

Election risk assessment

Contracted through to 2037 and already carrying passengers in Greater Christchurch, so both the supplier contract and the sunk cost argue against reversal whoever wins. The exposure here is schedule rather than cancellation: the programme has already been reset once.

Government priority alignment

MEDIUM: A public transport programme under a land-transport policy statement weighted towards roading, but contracted, funded and already part delivered.

Chronology

2022NZTA signs the delivery contract with Cubic in October. The programme is budgeted at about $1.36b over 15 years: $527.8m to design and build, the balance to operate it through to 2037
2024Route 29 pilot begins in Christchurch on 8 December, the first fare paid on the new system
2025Repeated delays through the year against an original mid-2025 target. An independent review leads to a programme reset, and Greater Christchurch goes live on 10 November as the first region: contactless debit and credit, Apple Pay and Google Pay across Christchurch City, Selwyn and Waimakariri
2026Rollout continues to further regions
2027expectedTarget for Motu Move to be available nationwide

Source

NZTA: National Ticketing Solution ↗ · Motu Move: about the programme ↗ · The Post: the long, winding road to the $1.36 billion National Ticketing Solution ↗ · RNZ: nationwide public transport ticketing system 'not on track', minister says ↗ · NZTA media release: Motu Move ready to go in Greater Christchurch ↗

View Motu Move: National Ticketing Solution on the live map →