Government on the other hand are very slow, regardless of stripe. Grant Robertson got very grumpy with KiwiRail re the ship and ferry land side infrastructure and should have stopped or changed it, one way or the other. Nicola Willis probably acted prematurely without fully thinking through the alternative options which could have included rescoping the land side aspect. Probably still made the right call.
Motu Move, the proposed national ticketing system, is a great concept, but clearly far too complex to deliver effectively at a reasonable cost. The current 14 year capital and operational costs estimate is $1.4 billion, hardly petty cash.
In essence, the Motu card would accommodate 13 regional transport operators and many different concession systems. This helps explain why a concept conceived in 2009 and was approved for funding in 2018, is still not operational. The government says it has been rolled out in Christchurch and a few other places, but in a rather simple way for standard fares.
New transport minister Chris Bishop believes it’s now on a better track despite numerous overruns in the last decade. I don’t share his optimism and believe the programme should cease at the point where it can handle standard fares only. For instance if I should go to Auckland and want to use public transport I want a simple option and the debit card is basic.
The fatal flaw in the overall scheme is the idea of a national card without national pricing. Vastly more stupid than trying to reinvent the wheel. And the most fundamental question is, how many people want a national card to use in 13 regions, with local concessions built in, as distinct from just using their debit or credit car, or smart phone or watch? I suspect very few.
It’s interesting to note the Greater Regional Wellington Council has given up hope on Motu and for $5.5 million will get a Snapper card replacement operating this year. Hopefully they will make good use of the many models offshore and deliver a card I might use in the capital, or at least use my debit card on Wellington buses, which at present is not possible.
Ministers have a habit of creating far too complicated policies that poor old government officials have to implement usually at great cost to the taxpayers. Some officials are complicit with the complexity and or fail to explain to ministers the scale of risk.
I rate Chris Bishop as the smartest National Party minister in part because he has a view of society which goes well beyond traditional National Party thinking. For instance I see him as quite enlightened on housing policy.
Chris, it’s not too late to change course. A simple Motu for standard fares makes a little sense, but more important is the nationwide use of debit cards etc for these fares. Trying to accommodate every regional concession does not make sense and I believe will ultimately founder. Pensioner concessions are easy because they don’t get any younger whereas students and beneficiaries can move in and out of that status. How on earth can any rational person think this system could efficiently handle that?
It’s possible I have misread the situation and welcome any comments on the facts and logic above.
Barrie Saunders has a background in Government Relations and blogs at www.barriesaunders.wordpress.com. - where this article was sourced.
In essence, the Motu card would accommodate 13 regional transport operators and many different concession systems. This helps explain why a concept conceived in 2009 and was approved for funding in 2018, is still not operational. The government says it has been rolled out in Christchurch and a few other places, but in a rather simple way for standard fares.
New transport minister Chris Bishop believes it’s now on a better track despite numerous overruns in the last decade. I don’t share his optimism and believe the programme should cease at the point where it can handle standard fares only. For instance if I should go to Auckland and want to use public transport I want a simple option and the debit card is basic.
The fatal flaw in the overall scheme is the idea of a national card without national pricing. Vastly more stupid than trying to reinvent the wheel. And the most fundamental question is, how many people want a national card to use in 13 regions, with local concessions built in, as distinct from just using their debit or credit car, or smart phone or watch? I suspect very few.
It’s interesting to note the Greater Regional Wellington Council has given up hope on Motu and for $5.5 million will get a Snapper card replacement operating this year. Hopefully they will make good use of the many models offshore and deliver a card I might use in the capital, or at least use my debit card on Wellington buses, which at present is not possible.
Ministers have a habit of creating far too complicated policies that poor old government officials have to implement usually at great cost to the taxpayers. Some officials are complicit with the complexity and or fail to explain to ministers the scale of risk.
I rate Chris Bishop as the smartest National Party minister in part because he has a view of society which goes well beyond traditional National Party thinking. For instance I see him as quite enlightened on housing policy.
Chris, it’s not too late to change course. A simple Motu for standard fares makes a little sense, but more important is the nationwide use of debit cards etc for these fares. Trying to accommodate every regional concession does not make sense and I believe will ultimately founder. Pensioner concessions are easy because they don’t get any younger whereas students and beneficiaries can move in and out of that status. How on earth can any rational person think this system could efficiently handle that?
It’s possible I have misread the situation and welcome any comments on the facts and logic above.
Barrie Saunders has a background in Government Relations and blogs at www.barriesaunders.wordpress.com. - where this article was sourced.
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