Covid-19
What you need to know
As of 6am, Sunday 7 March, the Wellington Region is in Alert Level 1.
The Government has made it clear that face coverings remain mandatory on all bus, train and harbour ferry services, unless:
- You’re under 12 years of age
- You’re a student on board a dedicated school service
- You’re a staff member in a space completely separated from passengers (e.g. train drivers)
- It is unsafe to do so (e.g. if wearing one means a driver cannot safely operate the vehicle)
- You have a physical or mental health condition that makes wearing a face covering unsuitable
A reminder, wearing a face covering helps keep you and our communities safe. It helps stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. Please ensure you bring your own face covering, and put it on before boarding your service.
It’s important to continue recording your journey with us - simply scan the QR codes provided with the NZ COVID Tracer or Rippl app, or note it down manually. Where possible, keep a safe distance from people you don’t know while you’re out and about.
Fares remain in place, and there will be no timetable changes. Cash will be collected, however contactless is preferred.
If you’re sick, please avoid public transport entirely and stay home.
Remember, be kind and follow these simple steps to keep you, your whanau and your community safe while using Metlink services:
- If you are unwell, do not travel on public transport. If you can, work from home
- Fares apply, cash is being collected however contactless is preferred
- Track your journey. QR codes are displayed on board and at staffed ticket facilities to help with this. An alternative is to note down where you went and the service number of your vehicle
- Buses will retain front door boarding which allows our customers full accessibility
- Metlink staff are not expected to enforce the wearing of face coverings or scanning of QR codes
General Information
- Wash or sanitise your hands before and as soon as possible after travelling
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow, or use a tissue to cover your mouth
- Avoid touching your eyes and face, without clean hands
- Put used tissues in the bin or a bag straight after using them
- Our strengthened cleaning routine continues
Thank you to all passengers and staff for your incredible patience and understanding during this time. We continue to rely on you to be responsible, be kind to one another and make the right choices by following the Government’s advice. Your safety, and our team’s safety, is paramount. We are all in this together.
Fares
Fares are in place and we will be accepting cash, but we recommend using contactless where possible. If you are using cash, a SuperGold card or monthly pass on our network we encourage you to download the NZ COVID Tracer app which records manual entries. Otherwise continue to track your journey by taking a note of where you went, the service number of your vehicle and the time you got on and off. Please respect the privacy of others and ensure images don’t include Metlink staff or other passengers.
Contact tracing
It is now more important than ever to scan QR codes. Metlink has QR codes displayed across all services, train station ticket offices, the kiosk at Wellington station and the East by West Ferry reception. You can scan these codes with either the NZ COVID Tracer App or Rippl App. If you are using the Rippl App, don’t forget to ‘check-out’ at the end of your journey. If you have a Snapper card, ensure you register it. By registering your Snapper, you will be able to view your travel history and it will make contact tracing easier and faster should there be COVID-19 exposure in our region.
How to keep a record of your Metlink journey
Wearing a face covering helps keep you and your whānau safe. It helps stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes.
Please ensure you bring your own face covering, and put it on before boarding your service.
Not sure how to use them, or how you could make one yourself? Find out more by visiting the Government's website.(external link)
During this time Total Mobility transport continues to operate. It is important to note that there will be no change to fares, which means Total Mobility will continue to cover 50% of the fare up to the maximum subsidy amount of $80, customers pay the remainder. Remember to present your Total Mobility card to Metlink staff member at the start of every trip. Total Mobility cardholders can continue to use their card to get the Accessible Concession on buses, trains and the harbour ferry.
Here’s what you need to know when travelling on Metlink dedicated school services:
- Students, on dedicated school services only, do not have to wear face coverings
- Students can sit together
- Keep a record or their journey
- Standing is permitted
If students are using public transport, they must:
- Wear a face covering if they are 12 years or older
- Scan the QR codes
- Tag on/off with Snapper and register your Snapper card
- Have your ID ready for inspection on trains
Remember, Metlink staff are not expected to enforce the wearing of face coverings or scanning of QR codes. Similar to passengers, frontline staff are required to wear face coverings, unless it is unsafe to do so due to medical reasons or it impairs their vision.
Fares:
- Fares remain in place on bus services, but passengers are encouraged to use Snapper cards (external link)
- For more information on Snapper please visit the Snapper website (external link)or call 0800 555 345
- Cash can be used on all bus services, please try and have the exact change if possible or use a contactless method if you can
Other information:
Fares
- Fares remain in place on rail services. Passengers are encouraged to purchase 10 trip tickets or monthly passes
- Cash fares remain available both on board and at ticket offices. Please try to have the exact change if possible or use a contacless method if you can
Other information:
- Please stay clear of the door areas where staff are located unless boarding or exiting our services
- All ticketing, pricing and route information(external link)
- Timetable information(external link)
Fares
- Fares remain in place on all ferry services. This includes the option of cash payment
- Tickets are available on board the ferry as well as from the East by West Office
- Passengers are encouraged to use contactless payment options (EFTPOS or Credit Card) where possible
Other information:
Why aren’t QR codes on Metlink public transport seat back, near doors or on carriage/vehicle ceilings?
We continue to work very closely with Ministry of Health, Waka Kotahi NZTA and Metlink operators to ensure that we are following government guidelines. All our COVID response initiatives, including the placement of QR codes, have been developed and approved by these parties. We currently don’t place QR codes in the following locations:
- BACK OF SEATS: We have chosen not to install QR codes on the backs of seats as the placement has proven to be prone to vandalism which results in high costs to constantly replace codes. We believe that codes on seat backs doesn’t adequately solve the issue of codes being easy to reach by all standing passengers and it encourages passengers to get into other peoples bubbles.
- NEAR DOORS: We’re also unable to install stickers at or near the doors of the vehicle (internally or externally) because this would create health and safety concerns.
- CEILINGS: QR codes are directional, which means that they are only able to be scanned from one direction
Why aren’t QR codes installed at stations, stops or wharves?
Installing QR codes at stations, stops and wharves is not feasible because it would only be able to record the station/stop/wharf the person was at, not the specific line, service, carriage or vehicle that was used.
There are not enough QR codes on my bus/train/ferry
There are codes located in consistently spaced locations on each train, bus and harbour ferry. Where codes have been damaged or removed, through regular audits these are identified and replaced. We are always considering ways to improve their location and accessibility on the carriages.
If you see a damaged or believe codes have been removed, please let us know the vehicle/carriage number so we can replace the codes.
I can’t get close enough to scan the QR code
QR codes can be scanned very easily, from a distance and without a steady hand (for example a moving vehicle) or at an angle. Customers do not need to hold their device directly up to the code (and thus encroach on other customer’s personal space) to scan the code. Codes can scanned from the aisle with most devices, scanned from an angle, or scanned without a steady hand (for example when the train is moving or if they scan when walking past a code on their way to or from their seat.)
If the code will not scan then customers are encouraged to manually record the trip on the app by noting the vehicle or carriage number. Passengers may also use the Bluetooth tracing feature of the COVID Tracer app to anonymously record their proximity to other Bluetooth users on the service who may have scanned in.
Last published: Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8:38 AM