Wellington moves faster on open-loop payments with a partner-led overlay approach

Greater Wellington will introduce contactless open-loop payments across buses and rail from April 2026 without waiting for national change

Greater Wellington is taking a practical step forward in modernising transit payments. 

Working with Snapper Services and Littlepay, the region will enable passengers to pay using contactless bank cards and digital wallets alongside existing Snapper cards.

The approach is deliberately incremental. Instead of waiting for a delayed national programme, Greater Wellington Regional Council is enabling passengers to use contactless bank cards and digital wallets alongside existing Snapper cards, building choice without disrupting what already works.

An open-loop payments overlay model built for speed and flexibility

At the heart of the Wellington deployment is Littlepay’s open-loop payments overlay. Rather than replacing Snapper’s established closed-loop system, Littlepay integrates existing infrastructure, validators and  devices, to open-loop payment acceptance.

This model allows Snapper and the region to move faster. It avoids large-scale system replacement, reduces delivery risk, and keeps future options open as national programmes evolve. For operators and authorities, it means progress now, without locking

Designed for today, ready for tomorrow

Phase one focuses on adult fares, delivering contactless open-loop payments on buses and rail. Future phases will introduce variable, zone-based fares and optional fare capping, calculated within Littlepay’s back office and aligned with regional fare policies.

Littlepay’s platform is built to handle this complexity. From fare aggregation and inspection support to deny lists, debt management, and refunds, the system is designed for real-world transit operations at scale.

Partnership at the centre

The Wellington project brings together a strong ecosystem of partners. Snapper leads delivery and customer experience, with Littlepay providing the open-loop payments layer. Windcave supports local acquiring, while Tmoney and Planeta enable certified device and payment application integration.

This collaborative model reflects how modern transit systems succeed. Each partner focuses on their strengths, with open APIs and clear roles enabling faster delivery and long-term resilience.

A practical step forward for passengers

For passengers, the outcome is simple. From April 2026, adults travelling across the Greater Wellington network will be able to tap a contactless card, phone, or smartwatch to pay their fare, while Snapper cards remain available for those who prefer them.

For the region, it is a measured but meaningful step toward more flexible, accessible, and future-ready transit payments, delivered without waiting and without unnecessary disruption.