Children travelling on Metlink services have access to discounted fares dependent on their age and schooling status. This concession can be accessed by using a Green Snapper card to automatically be charged the correct fare when tagging on and off.
These concessions are not available on independent commercial services. For fares and discounts on these services, please contact your service provider.
NOTE: Children under the age of 5 do not require a Snapper card, and can travel for free with a guardian who is at least 10 years old.
From the age of 5, children are eligible for discounted travel until they finish secondary school or turn 16 (whichever comes later). Full details on what these discounted fares are can be found at Metlink.
These child fares can be accessed by simply using a green Snapper card. These will always be charged Child concession fares when being used to tag on and off, and do not expire. They can be purchased from our web store, or a Snapper retailer/Service Centre (such as the Wellington Railway Station Information Centre).
Combined Student ID/Snapper cards
Some schools get their school ID cards printed onto Snapper cards. As of 2020, these are printed onto green Snapper cards and therefore have a Child Concession that does not expire*.
Schools which currently use Snapper student ID cards:
*There are still Student ID cards in use that were printed pre-2020 on the original red Snapper cards. If the concession on your Student ID has expired, we recommend you request a replacement ID from your school, to receive one printed on a green Snapper.