The first part of the Motu Move, a national ticketing system being rolled out by Waka Kotahi is now fully online, and it means you can use your Debut card to board buses, trains and ferries across Auckland.
Auckland Transport has been updating contactless pay machines on transit systems across Tāmaki Makaurau. The system has been in testing for quite some time and is now live. Contactless card payments are planned to eventually become available across the country, starting with major centres first. Read more on NTS here.
What this means for Debut Members
You can now board a bus, train or ferry with your phone, watch or card, using your Debut Mastercard. The new contactless readers allow you to pay for your travel fare directly with a debit or credit card.
How to Pay your Fare with Your Debut Mastercard ™
✅ Check your balance: Make sure you have some money loaded to your Debut account.
🛜 Make a contactless payment: Use Apple Pay, Google Pay or your physical Ora Card to make a contactless payment at the readers when boarding a bus, train or ferry in
For payments on your phone or watch, unlock your device or activate a contactless payment and select your Debut Card. You can even use a Debut Tonu card, if you prefer. Your device may ask you to verify your face or fingerprint.
If you’re paying with your physical card, make sure to separate it from your other cards, so the reader scans the right one.
💳 Tagging Off: Use the same card to tag off, so you’re charged the correct fare.
Why use Your Debut Mastercard for Public Transport?
🔐 Security and Convenience: Using your Debut Mastercard offers superior security and convenience since you don’t need to carry a separate transit card that needs topping up.
📊 Smart Insights: Debut allows you to keep track of all your travel expenses, thanks to smart spending categories. With contactless payments on Auckland Transport, this includes trips on the bus, train or ferry too.
📩 Easy for Budgeting: If you’re working within a budget, you can set a cap for transportation, and we’ll help you keep track of your spending for this category over the month.
🚌 Grow your Savings on your Commute: If you’re using rounding to gradually grow your savings, you’ll contribute to your savings goal every time you tag on.
🌏 Earn Universal Interest: Instead of withdrawing money to a transit card, leave it in Debut to earn monthly interest. Debut provides Universal Interest across savings and current accounts without penalties or lockups. Check the app for the current rate.
📲 No Card Needed: No card, no problem! Sign up for Debut in less than 5 minutes and start using contactless payments right away. It’s easy-as.
Questions and Answers
How much is the fare?
It’s the same. When you use contactless payments, you’ll pay the same adult fares as you would with an AT HOP card. Off-peak discounts are also still available with contactless payments.
Concession fares, including child and student concessions, Community Connect, accessible, SuperGold and Fareshare, still require an AT HOP card.
When will I be charged for a fare?
When you tag on to public transport with your Debut Card, you will be charged at the end of the day. Any public transportation you use during the day will be calculated based on the combination of transportation, distance travelled and time between travelling. You may see a temporary hold for the fare amount in your timeline in Debut.
If your balance falls below, AT will continue to try charging your card until you top up.
Can I tag on with my physical Debut Ora Card and tag off using my phone or watch?
No. Even though the card number is the same, physical cards, digital cards and digital devices are not interchangeable. To make sure you’re charged the correct fare, always tag on and off using the same card or device.
How do I transfer between services?
Just tag on and off using the same card or device. If your travel includes multiple forms of public transportation, use the same card and device to tag on and off so that you are charged the correct fare.
What if my phone or watch’s battery dies?
If you plan on relying on just your phone or watch for payments, it’s always a good idea to make sure your device has enough battery charge. If this is a concern for you, we recommend taking your physical card with you and maybe even having a backup card, just in case.
How do I get a Debut Mastercard?
Just download Debut and sign up in the app. You’ll need your ID handy. It’s free, and takes just 5 minutes. You can start using your phone or watch for contactless payments immediately, even before your physical card arrives in the post.
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Ready to tag on?
We’re super excited to join you on your next trip across Auckland. Try it out, and let us know how you go. We’re stoked to hear about your experience.
