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Bee Card

Bee Card
Location	Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Invercargill, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Taranaki, Waikato, Manawatū–Whanganui
Launched	November 2019; 5 years ago (2019-11)
Technology	MiFare DESFire EV1
Manager	Bee Card Regional Consortium
Currency	NZD ($299 maximum load)
Stored-value	Pay as you go
Auto recharge	Auto Top Up (available for registered cards)
Validity	Buses in 10 regions of New Zealand Te Huia Queenstown Ferries
Retailed	Online Retail outlets
Website	beecard.co.nz

The Bee Card is an electronic fare payment smart card that is used on bus services in ten regions of New Zealand, along with Queenstown Ferries and the Te Huia train service between Hamilton (Waikato) and Auckland. It is used as a tag-on tag-off card on buses, with paper tickets remaining available for use for each of the individual region's public transport network systems.

First launched in late 2019 in Northland, it has since expanded to regions including Manawatū–Whanganui, Invercargill, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Nelson, Hawke's Bay and Otago with Taranaki switching to the Bee Card in late 2020, ending the main rollout. Gisborne's GizzyBus was added to the system in 2022, along with Queenstown Ferries. It also replaced the separate pre-existing fare card systems that were used by individual regional councils such as the BUSIT card (Waikato) and the GoCard (Otago).

Background

The National Ticketing Solution (NTS) is a proposed nationwide electronic public transport ticketing system, expected to be implemented by 2026. The Bee Card is an interim ticketing system to be used until the implementation of the nationwide system.

In 2013, nine regional councils formed a “Regional Consortium” to represent their interests in public transport matters, which led to the creation of the Bee Card.

Regional history

The card was gradually rolled out across ten regions of New Zealand from 2019 to 2022.

Northland

Whangārei was the first city to use Bee Card, starting on 20 November 2019.

Manawatū–Whanganui

Whanganui was the second city to use Bee Card, starting on 9 December 2019.

Other places in the Manawatū–Whanganui region (i.e. Palmerston North, Ashhurst, Feilding, Levin, and Marton) switched to the system between December 2019 and July 2020, as it was delayed over teething problems.

Southland

Invercargill replaced its Bus Smart card with Bee Card on 22 June 2020.

Waikato

Waikato replaced its BUSIT card with Bee Card on 6 July 2020.

The Te Huia train accepted the Bee Card from its first service on 6 April 2021.

Bay of Plenty

Bee Card was introduced to Katikati, Kawerau, Omokoroa, Ōpōtiki, Rotorua and Whakatāne on 20 July and to Tauranga on 27 July 2020, replacing both the Tauranga and Rotorua Smartride cards.

Nelson

Nelson's replaced its NBus Card with Bee Card on 3 August 2020.

Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay replaced its goBay cards with Bee Card on 24 August 2020.

Otago

Dunedin transitioned from the GoCard to the Bee Card during 2020. During the transition period, all trips were free. Bee Card became available in Dunedin on 1 September 2020 and in Queenstown on 15 September 2020.

The Bee Card led to increased bus passenger numbers in Dunedin due to its cheaper fares and simplified fare structure that was not zone-based.

Bee Card was added to Otago's Queenstown Ferries on 26 October 2022.

Taranaki

Taranaki replaced its Citylink and Connector cards with the Bee Card on 19 October 2020. With cheaper fares and an easier payment method, the Bee Card led to increased bus trips on Taranaki's Waitara route.

Gisborne

The GizzyBus system in Gisborne was added to the Bee Card system in 2022, replacing the previous smartcard.

Operation

The card is tapped at a card reader when getting on and off transport, and deducts the relevant fare. In some regions the fare is based on how many zones are travelled, other regions use a flat fare regardless of distance. The Te Huia train uses a portable onboard card reader that a passenger attendant uses to remotely scan each passenger's card to deduct the relevant fare based on distance travelled.

Cards and card balance can be purchased online or from the driver with cash when boarding.

See also

• Public transport in New Zealand
• Public transport in the Otago Region
• Transport in Invercargill
• Public transport in New Plymouth
• Public transport in Waikato

References

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2. L, Matt (25 October 2022). "A new National Ticketing System". Greater Auckland. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
3. "New national ticketing system for NZ". www.govtechreview.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
4. "One stop ticketing solution for public transport". The Beehive. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
5. "New system to let Kiwis pay for train, bus via phone, credit card". 1 News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
6. "Bye-bye Bee Card – new ticket system launched". Otago Daily Times Online News. 21 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
7. "Bee Card is not to be in 2–3 years". Otago Daily Times Online News. 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
8. "Partnering for a National Ticketing Programme" (PDF). Greater Wellington Regional Council. 8 February 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
9. "Bee Card is here!". Northland Regional Council. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
10. "New electronic card for Whanganui bus travellers". Whanganui Chronicle. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
11. "Bee Card is nearly here!". Horizons Region. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
12. Galuszka, Jono (5 November 2019). "New bus ticket system set to go live in December". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
13. Galuszka, Jono (12 January 2020). "Bee not ready to buzz for wider Manawatū bus users". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
14. "Passengers to ride the buses with Bee Card from next week". NZ Herald. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
15. "Bee Card". Invercargill City Council. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
16. "New Bee Card starts July on Raglan bus". www.raglan23.co.nz. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
17. "New prepay bus fare system for Hamilton". Stuff. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
18. ^ "Fares – Te Huia train". www.tehuiatrain.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
19. ^ "Waikato's $98m rail punt – will it get people out of cars?". Stuff. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
20. "bee-card.pdf" (PDF). Tauranga City Council. 23 June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
21. School, Aquinas (30 June 2020). "Bay Bus New Bus Card | Aquinas College | Tauranga NZ". Aquinas College. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
22. "Bee Card: Nelson's new electronic bus card is here". Our Nelson. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
23. "Bee Card bus ticket system launches in Hawke's Bay". NZ Herald. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
24. "Yes, buses are still free". www.orc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
25. "New $2 online bus card – and free until September". Crux. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
26. "The Bee Card Launches In Dunedin Next Week | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
27. "Bee prepared for cheaper ferry trips". Otago Daily Times Online News. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
28. "Queenstown ferries buzzing to use Bee Cards". RNZ. 25 October 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
29. "Queenstown Ferries – Frankton to Queenstown Bay". queenstownferries.co.nz. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
30. Coster, Deena (7 September 2020). "Older passengers express 'anxiety' over new bus card payment scheme". Stuff. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
31. Persico, Christina (9 October 2020). "Taranaki public transport buses free until October 17 for pay system transition". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
32. Ashworth, Craig (4 August 2022). "Waitara bus route booms with cheap tickets". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
33. "Fare-ly easy system for buses". NZ Herald. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
34. "New bus card to be introduced in May". Gisborne District Council. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
35. ^ The citations are only one example of each type of how fares are deducted. Each regional council calculates their own fare structure and whether they use zones and/or flat fares.
36. "Fares – BUSIT". BUSIT. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
37. "Fare-ly easy system for buses". NZ Herald. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
38. "Fares and Bee Card – Queenstown". www.orc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
39. "Beecard – How it Works". beecard.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
40. "Bee Card tips". www.orc.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

• Fare collection systems in New Zealand
• Contactless smart cards