NZRise calls for fair tender process for Wellington

NZRise calls for fair tender process for Wellington smartcard solution

December 16t h , 2015

As Greater Wellington Regional Council prepares to begin the tender process for a new city-wide public transport smartcard system, NZRise urges the Council to conduct the process fairly.

“We know that NZTA has written to the Council expressing a preference for their wholly-owned subsidiary, Hop, to be chosen over one of the other three providers expected to bid for this project.

That's a clear conflict of interest,” says NZRise co-chair Don Christie.

“It's also out of step with government procurement processes that have been designed to prevent this kind of anti-competitive behaviour.”

“NZRise would like to see the process run with each bidder being assessed on its merits, free from outside influence and any perceptions of a predetermined outcome.

“It's important that technology companies get a fair hearing by the Council, and that the Council gets the most cost-effective and practical solution for ratepayers and commuters. It would be a shame for a flawed process to result in a poor decision which leads to both a rise in costs and a decrease in functionality and flexibility.”

NZTA’s subsidiary is NZTTL (NZ Transport Ticketing Limited) who own and operate the HOP system in Auckland.

NZRise is a group of business leaders focused on helping digital technology businesses across New Zealand reach our full potential. With over 50 member companies NZRise concentrates on achieving greater influence and results by providing a collective voice coalesced around a single purpose a highly productive, economically successful, sustainable, export led New Zealand.

ENDS

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