6 Jun 2016

125,000 Ak Goldcard holders risk losing free travel

9:55 am on 6 June 2016

Around 125,000 Supergold cardholders in Auckland remain at risk of losing their free travel concession in four weeks time.

From 1 July Supergold cardholders will have to get a $10 AT HOP travel card, with their free travel entitlement embedded in it, and electronically swipe it on each trip.

From 1 July Supergold cardholders will have to get a $10 AT HOP travel card, with their free travel entitlement embedded in it, and electronically swipe it on each trip. Photo: 123RF

The over-65s are required to sign up for a special version of Auckland's electronic public transport card by July, after the government changed the rules on their free travel concession.

Auckland Transport is one week into a big campaign to locate and sign up 140,000 Supergold cardholders, needing to make the change.

There are already 44,000 people using the AT HOP travel card, which also gives a discount prior to the 9am start of free travel.

After the first week, 4821 or fewer than 4 percent have completed the process of getting an AT HOP Gold card.

Another 10,258 or almost 9 percent have begun the changeover.

Auckland Transport began the campaign after the Ministry of Social Development, which runs the Supergold scheme, declined on privacy grounds to mail out information to all affected cardholders.

The agency is providing information packs for those who phone or turn up at a service centre, but Supergold card holders have to turn up in person to at least begin the process.

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