HOP card
Encyclopedia
The HOP card is a contactless
electronic ticketing card which was released in several stages onto NZ Bus services in Auckland
, New Zealand
, in May 2011. This implementation is the first phase in the introduction of an integrated ticketing
and smart card
system which will be used on all public transport in the region by 2012. It will be replaced with a new payment system when integration with the ferries and trains is complete.
The card is compatible with Wellington
's Snapper card
. Its name was chosen to represent the ease with which the "hop-on hop-off" system would work. The card can also be used in some taxis and over 200 retail stores in Auckland.
The release was timed so that the system would be ready for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
. While the final integrated card would not be completed in time, an intermediate card would be released for the World Cup.
, made a joint bid with ANZ
, New Zealand Post
, Eyede, Unisys
and Beca Group
for the Snapper card
. However, the contract was awarded to the Thales Group
. Snapper lodged a complaint, later dismissed, questioning the legitimacy of the tender process, but later accepted an invitation from Auckland Transport to cooperate on the initiative with Thales.
Because Snapper released the third-party card for the system first, there was significant confusion among commuters as to the identity of the card, which had also been marketed as a "Snapper card". Auckland Transport clarified that Hop, run by Thales, is the larger scheme, while Snapper has released the card that is currently in use on NZ Bus services. To add to the confusion, Auckland Transport also instructed bus drivers not to accept the fully compatible Snapper card used in Wellington on Auckland bus services.
Contactless smart card
A contactless smart card is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits that can process and store data, and communicate with a terminal via radio waves. There are two broad categories of contactless smart cards. Memory cards contain non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps...
electronic ticketing card which was released in several stages onto NZ Bus services in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, in May 2011. This implementation is the first phase in the introduction of an integrated ticketing
Integrated ticketing
Integrated ticketing allows a person to make a journey that involves transfers within or between different transport modes with a single ticket that is valid for the complete journey, modes being buses, trains, subways, ferries, etc...
and smart card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
system which will be used on all public transport in the region by 2012. It will be replaced with a new payment system when integration with the ferries and trains is complete.
The card is compatible with Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
's Snapper card
Snapper card
The Snapper card is a contactless electronic ticketing card used to pay for bus fares and other small purchases, such as food. It was introduced in Wellington, New Zealand, in July 2008...
. Its name was chosen to represent the ease with which the "hop-on hop-off" system would work. The card can also be used in some taxis and over 200 retail stores in Auckland.
Release
15,000 passengers used the cards during their first week in use, on the 137 buses from the North Shore's North Star bus system that had been converted.The release was timed so that the system would be ready for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
. While the final integrated card would not be completed in time, an intermediate card would be released for the World Cup.
Brand confusion
In 2008, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority announced its intentions to release a smartcard system for the region. Snapper Services Limited, a subsidiary of InfratilInfratil
Infratil Limited is a New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company. It owns several airports, electricity generators and retailers, and a public transport business, with operations in New Zealand, Australia and Europe. Infratil was founded by Lloyd Morrison, a Wellington-based merchant...
, made a joint bid with ANZ
ANZ
ANZ is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the fourth largest bank in Australia* ANZ Stadium, sponsor name for Stadium Australia* Air New Zealand, from its ICAO code...
, New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post, commonly referred by its acronym, NZPost is a State owned enterprise responsible for providing postal service in New Zealand.-History:...
, Eyede, Unisys
Unisys
Unisys Corporation , headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States, and incorporated in Delaware, is a long established business whose core products now involves computing and networking.-History:...
and Beca Group
Beca Group
' is one of the largest employee-owned engineering and related consultancy services companies in the Asia-Pacific. While it is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, Beca operates from three main hubs: Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Beca has over 2,400 employees in total, many of them...
for the Snapper card
Snapper card
The Snapper card is a contactless electronic ticketing card used to pay for bus fares and other small purchases, such as food. It was introduced in Wellington, New Zealand, in July 2008...
. However, the contract was awarded to the Thales Group
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
. Snapper lodged a complaint, later dismissed, questioning the legitimacy of the tender process, but later accepted an invitation from Auckland Transport to cooperate on the initiative with Thales.
Because Snapper released the third-party card for the system first, there was significant confusion among commuters as to the identity of the card, which had also been marketed as a "Snapper card". Auckland Transport clarified that Hop, run by Thales, is the larger scheme, while Snapper has released the card that is currently in use on NZ Bus services. To add to the confusion, Auckland Transport also instructed bus drivers not to accept the fully compatible Snapper card used in Wellington on Auckland bus services.