Wellingtonians will be the first to try a new cash-less system for public transport

Set to be introduced in 2021, the account-based system will allow people to pay for the bus, train or ferry with their bank card or smartphone.

It'll eventually be rolled out to the rest of the country, making it much easier to travel anywhere without needing different travel cards.

The initiative's being led by Project NEXT.

Spokesman Wayne Hastie says Wellington's first because it doesn't have an integrated ticketing system and desperately needs one.

There are currently 16 different ticketing systems operating in New Zealand.