Metlink website wins prestigious international award

Greater Wellington's public transport website www.metlink.org.nz has won a "2016 WebAward for outstanding achievement in web development accolade" in the world's premier competition for web developers and advertising agencies. 

The WebAward Competition sets the standard of excellence for website development with independent expert judges from around the world reviewing sites in 96 industries.  Marks are given for ease of use, content, design and technology.

Greater Wellington Regional Council worked with Wellington's Somar Design Studios for two years to develop and enhance the site, used by around 20,000 people each day.

GWRC General Manager Public Transport Wayne Hastie says the focus was on designing a website where customers can quickly find the information they need about their bus, train or ferry service.

"It's fantastic that working with Somar we have been able to deliver that and the website has received international accolades," says Dr Hastie.

Somar Managing Director Aaron Scott says GWRC set the challenge of taking a different approach to delivering complex public transport information.

"The Metlink website delivers information on over 100 bus services, 200 school bus services, 4 railway lines and the harbour ferry.

"When you take into account thousands of individual services operated each day, it was a great challenge to build an innovative website that is easy for Wellingtonians to use as they travel around the region," says Mr Scott.

"We worked closely with GWRC to understand how Wellington's public transport network works and what information customers need to catch their bus, train and ferry. What we delivered works - over 7,500 journeys are planned through the website each day and 21,000 people have signed up to My Metlink which allow them to personalise the website."

"We entered the WebAwards to get feedback from some of the top online innovators in the world and we are delighted with the award. But websites are never 'finished' and we look forward to continuing to work with GWRC to deliver new features to make it even better."

Metlink provides all the information Wellington commuters and visitors need to get around the region by bus, train and ferry. It delivers real-time information for when the next service is due, timetables, and alerts on disruptions and delays.

The Web Marketing Association awards were established in 1997 to encourage excellence in online design and marketing. It is a truly international competition with entries from over 40 countries. Sites are judged by a panel of web professionals, from developers to marketers, in 96 industry categories.

Websites are judged on seven different criteria including design, ease of use, content and technology and awarded out of a maximum score of 70. The Metlink website scored 63. http://www.webaward.org/winners_result.asp#.V-GXz_l9670