In a few years' time, commuters across most of the country will be able to wave goodbye to all of the different paper and plastic payment methods that exist for public transport.

Public transport users in almost all parts of the country will eventually be able to use their mobile phones or bankcards to jump on any bus, train or ferry.

A long-awaited nationwide programme to introduce a universal non-cash payment method is set to be rolled out in Wellington in 2021, with the rest of the country jumping on board by 2026.

The new technology will allow commuters across New Zealand to use either mobile devices, credit or debit cards, or a national "transit" card to access all forms of public transport in most places up and down the country.

CHRIS MCKEEN/STUFF Once the new system is in place, the payment system seen on this Auckland train should also be seen on all buses, trains and ferries across most of the country.

The only regions that won't be covered to some degree under the new system will be Gisborne and Marlborough.

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The initiative, known as integrated ticketing, is being led by a group called Project NEXT, which draws its members from a dozen city and regional councils across the country, and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Bankcards are expected to replace existing public transport smartcards when the new system is up and running.

Steering group chairman Wayne Hastie said there were currently about 16 different ticketing systems operating across New Zealand that were costly to maintain and provided little choice in the way passengers paid for their travel.

"We've found a way of working together that provides a more consistent national experience, while still allowing each area to set its own fares," he said.

Auckland's Hop Card is the only existing non-cash payment method that can be used across all forms of public transport. But its contract is due to expire in the mid-2020s and this new technology is likely to replace it.

123RF The new technology should also allow people to pay for public transport using their smartphone. (File photo)

Under the new accounts-based system, money will be charged from a bank account rather than through a provider.

The physical transit card will not store money, but can be linked to a bank account and used to swipe on and off public transport.

Those who use existing systems would need to adapt to the "next generation" technology, in the same way Wellingtonians had become used to the Snapper cards that feature on most buses, Hastie said.

MICHAEL KILGOUR/GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL Wellington rail commuters will be the first to get the new technology in 2021. (File photo)

"We live in a time of rapidly-changing and expanding technology choices available to people," he said.

"Ease of payment for public transport is an area where customer preferences and expectations are increasing rapidly."

The rollout will start with Wellington's rail network, before extending to the region's buses and ferries, and then gradually to other parts of the country.

RED BUS Twelve regional transport authorities are on board with the move, including Environment Canterbury. (File photo)

Rail commuters will swipe on and off at ticketing gates rather than on board carriages. It is still to be determined what stations on the network will have gates, but they will not be at every station.

Hastie said the estimated rollout date of 2021 was Project NEXT's best guess at this stage.

"Timeframes are always difficult to estimate with accuracy, but that's the best estimate of the experts who are looking at this at the moment."

PHIL DOYLE/STUFF Auckland's Hop Card is likely to be replaced by the new nationwide ticketing technology.

The technology that will be adopted already exists in a number of cities around the world, most notably London. But only a few countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, have a national system.

The Project NEXT team has now put the call out to local and overseas companies to provide the technology here.

AREAS COVERED BY NEW TICKETING SYSTEM

* Wellington region

* Auckland

* Canterbury

* Northland

* Waikato

* Taranaki

* Bay of Plenty

* Hawke's Bay

* Manawatu-Whanganui

* Nelson city

* Otago

* Invercargill city