A scathing report into the $1.3 billion project to allow bank cards and phones as payment on public transport has found the delayed launch dates are still \u201cambitious\u201d despite ongoing cost risks.<\/p>\n
The National Ticketing Solution (NTS) was first signed off 16 years ago and is designed to replace all of the country\u2019s public transport cards and make one contactless payment system for all travelling via bus, train or ferry.<\/p>\n
It was being developed by US transport-defence contractor Cubic, which had the contract to build, configure and operate the system. The project hit several bumps in its development, with an independent review last year warning there was a high likelihood of significant delays to the transport upgrade and that its leadership had to be restructured.<\/p>\n
A delay shifted its rollout across the country from the end of this year to the end of next year. It had its first win late last year when it was made available in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
The Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) decided it could not wait for the NTS and developed its [own system set for launch next month](https:\/\/www.metlink.org.nz\/news-and-updates\/news\/contactless-payments-added-to-metlink-services-in-2026) at a cost of just over $5 million.<\/p>\n
N\ufeffew Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) recently made public an unreleased report completed in December, and provided an update on progress following the July review.<\/p>\n
It found that despite slowing down the NTS rollout its time frames remained \u201cambitious\u201d and a lack of commitment from Greater Wellington Regional Council and Auckland Transport posed a big problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout such commitment, significant risk will remain with respect to the capacity to effectively manage the programme from both a time and cost perspective.\u201d \\
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\nThe report done by LEK Consulting also took aim at Wellington\u2019s own ticketing project saying it would be \u201ca distraction for GWRC staff who might otherwise be engaged on NTS\u201d.<\/p>\n
Metlink strategy and investments senior manager Tim Shackleton rejected the claim of distraction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis \\[the council\u2019s own system] is managed separately from the NTS project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shackleton said the regional council was committed to the NTS with \u201cdetailed planning underway\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said after the July review, NZTA and the regional council have continued to work together to develop an integrated plan and combined delivery functions for the Wellington region.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreater Wellington is working collaboratively with NZTA and a variety of stakeholders, and while challenges arise, Greater Wellington is committed to making the NTS solution work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greater Wellington Regional Council will launch its own contactless payment system next month, meaning Snapper cards won\u2019t have to be used.Kate Judson \/ Wairarapa Times Age<\/p>\n
**D\ufeffelayed timelines still ambitious**<\/p>\n
When asked by *The Post* whether Auckland Transport had confidence in the programme, an AT spokesperson said it was a matter for NZTA, not them and poured cold water on the project\u2019s delayed rollout.<\/p>\n
\u201cAT is not responsible for the delivery of the NTS Programme, and this is a question for NZTA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe agree with the review\u2019s finding that the integrated schedule is ambitious.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said AT was still committed to the project.<\/p>\n
**T\ufeffransport Minister not mincing words over expectations**<\/p>\n
Transport Minister Chris Bishop told *The Post* he\u2019d made his expectation for those running the project clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet on with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bishop said while good progress had been made, there was still a significant amount of work to do. \u201cI expect to see that work continue at pace.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said councils and public transport authorities needed to stay focused on delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, New Zealanders very reasonably expect a simple, consistent way to pay for public transport across the country, and they expect it to be delivered. So do I.\u201d<\/p>\n
**Politically Correct**<\/p>\n
NZTA chief customer and services officer Sarina Pratley said with regard to the time frames of the project, the agency had spent the past few months negotiating timings and what can be delivered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith many of the complex technical issues being resolved as part of the Greater Christchurch roll-out, we expect to be well-positioned from the second half of this year to begin delivery in the regions while we prepare for the roll outs across Wellington and Auckland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pratley said NZTA was working in partnership with public transport providers to confirm more specific regional time frames for the NTS.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce formally agreed, these will be communicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
She made it clear that \u201call partners and public transport authorities remain committed to the NTS programme\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was noted in the report there had been progress since the review in July, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNTS has begun to deliver significant customer benefits with the first phase of Motu Move having been rolled out in Greater Christchurch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pratley said Cubic had committed additional resources, with the company now working on the project seven days a week.<\/p>\n
Cubic spokesperson Corey Shields told *The Post* the company valued its partnership with NZTA and was fully committed to \u201cdelivering a reliable, secure, and consistent national ticketing system that builds upon the successful launch in Greater Christchurch\u201d.<\/p>\n
Published in\u00a0[The Post 19 March 2026](https:\/\/www.thepost.co.nz\/politics\/360974126\/probe-13b-national-ticketing-project-finds-delayed-time-line-still-ambitious-auckland-transport) \\
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\nFor further reading concerning the points raised in this opinion –<\/p>\n
* [Future of passenger rail in New Zealand is regional rail](https:\/\/publictransportforum.nz\/articles\/article\/the-future-of-passenger-rail-in-new-zealand-is-regional-rail-07-07-2025\/)
\n* [Time for a national public transport network](https:\/\/www.publictransportforum.nz\/articles\/article\/national-public-transport-network-07-06-2022)[](https:\/\/www.thepost.co.nz\/authors\/nick-james)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A scathing report into the $1.3 billion project to allow bank cards and phones as payment on public transport has found the delayed launch dates are still \u201cambi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-543332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t