Heard the latest buzz?

You will be familiar with the AT Hop Card now we also have the Bee Card for use in some regions outside of Auckland.

From October 2020, nine regions across New Zealand will have a new bus card. It’s called the Bee Card. Why? I don’t know.

The regions using the Bee Card are: Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Otago and Invercargill. If you are travelling within New Zealand you will be able to use your Bee Card in all nine of these regions. And you do not have to reside in one of those regions to get one. What is more, if you are a SuperGold Card holder you do not have to deposit any money to get one and travel in non-peak hours is free.

Some regions are still transitioning to Bee Card, but SuperGold Card holders will still receive their concession without a Bee Card. You will need to have your SuperGold travel concession loaded onto a Bee Card in order to keep enjoying your free bus travel when using the card.

When using your Bee Card; instead of showing your SuperGold card to a bus driver you’ll use your Bee Card, just like all other passengers, to tag on and tag off the bus using the card readers by the door. When you tag on your Bee Card the readers will recognise you’re a SuperGold customer and you’ll travel free outside of peak hours, provided you have remembered to have had your SuperGold card number loaded onto the BeeCard..

You’ll still need to carry your SuperGold Card with you when using the bus, as proof of your eligibility for SuperGold concessions.

You can get a card online or from the relevant local council. In some regions, you can pick one up from the bus driver. But for Aucklanders it is easier to do it on line at beecard.co.nz. It’s no problem. I have already done it!