Community Connect Application
You may be eligible for 50% off Metlink public transport, if:
You’re 16+, and
- A New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident, or refugee, and normally live in New Zealand, and
- earning under $36,000 a year
Meeting these criteria may mean you qualify for a Community Services Card, which unlocks 50% off Metlink public transport fares.
What you’ll get with a Community Services Card
A Community Services Card gives you:
- 50% off adult fares on Metlink buses, trains and ferries when you link it to your red Snapper card with the Community Connect Concession(external link)
- Cheaper healthcare and discounts at places like cinemas and other services.(external link)
The Community Services Card is administered by Work and Income, but you don't have to be receiving a benefit or allowance from them to be eligible.
How to get 50% off Metlink Fares
If you think you fit the criteria, follow the steps below. We know applications can be a pain, so if you get stuck, reach out to the Metlink Contact Centre(external link)
Step 1: Get a Community Services Card
(If you already have a Community Services Card, jump to Step 2)
Start by checking whether you’re eligible for a Community Services Card through Work and Income
You may get the Community Services Card if you:
- are 16 or over
- either:
- are a New Zealand citizen
- are a permanent resident, or
- have, or have applied for, refugee or protection status
- normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
If you’re a dependent child(external link), you can only get a Community Services Card, if your parent or caregiver is getting the:
- Orphans Benefit
- Unsupported Child's Benefit, or
- Child Disability Allowance.
It also depends on how much income you and your partner get. By income, we mean any money, goods and services you or your partner get from any source, such as:
- wages or salary
- NZ Superannuation
- private pensions (if you get NZ Super and a private pension, only half of your private pension is counted as income)
- overseas pensions
- interest or dividends from investments
- Child support
- Paid Parental Leave
- Working for Families Tax Credits from Inland Revenue
- ACC payments
- income from rents
Income limits
| You may be able to get a card if you're... | And your yearly income (before tax) is less than... |
|---|---|
| Single - living with others | $33,919 |
| Single - living alone | $35,997 |
| Couple, no dependant children | $53,828 |
| NZ Super, single, sharing accommodation | $36,245 |
| NZ Super, living alone | $38,596 |
| NZ Super, in a relationship, no dependant children | $57,894 |
| Family of 2 | $65,747 |
| Family of 3 | $80,928 |
| Family of 4 | $93,364 |
| Family of 5 | $105,578 |
| Family of 6 | $119,024 |
|
For families of more than 6, the limit goes up another $12,065 for each extra person. Family: in this table, a family includes either 1 or 2 adults and the dependent children they care for. For example, a family of 2 is made up of 1 adult and 1 dependent child. A family of 3, can be made up of either 1 adult and their 2 dependent children or 2 adults and 1 dependent child. |
|
If you're eligible, you will need to do the following:
a) Print and complete this form(external link) or, there are a number of places you can collect a form:
- ring Work and Income on 0800 999 999 and ask for one
- call into a Work and Income service centre(external link) to collect one
- ask a health practitioner, for example your family doctor or pharmacy.
b) Gather any financial documents requested in the form
c) Take 2 forms of identification(external link) and all the mentioned documents into a Work and Income Service Centre(external link)
i) If you're self-employed, you must send us your latest full set of business accounts and tax summaries.
ii) You can ask your accountant to send us your financial details, but they can't sign the application form for you.
d) Step 4 - Getting your card
If your application is approved, Work and Income will send you a Community Services Card. On your card is the date it starts and expires. You can continue to use the card until it expires, even if your circumstances change.
If you need help at all, you can visit a Work and Income Service Centre, where staff can help you through the process or call Work and Income on 0800 999 999.
Step 2: Get a red Snapper card
-
Use the one you already have, or
-
Apply for your first Snapper card for free through Metlink(external link) once your Community Services Card application has been accepted; or
Step 3: Link your Snapper card with your Community Services Card
Link your Snapper card with your Community Services Card using the link below to activate the Community Connect Concession – this concession gives you 50% off Metlink public transport.
Once linked, you’ll automatically receive 50% off adult Metlink fares when using your Snapper card.
If you get stuck, reach out to the Metlink Contact Centre.(external link)
Please note:
- You can only have one concession loaded onto a Snapper card at a time. If you’re eligible for the Community Connect Concession, it provides a 50% discount on the adult fare, compared with a 25% Tertiary discount.
- If you’re a student, your university may automatically reapply a Tertiary concession to your Snapper card. This can override any other concession you hold, including Community Connect. If this happens, you can simply reapply for Community Connect to have it reinstated.
- If you would prefer to keep Community Connect, you can also ask your education provider not to apply a Tertiary concession on your behalf.
Last published: Thursday, 5 February 2026 at 3:00 pm