30 November 2020
File Ref: OIAP-7-16970
Andrew Lensen
By email:
[FYI request #14090 email]
Dear Mr Lensen
Request for information 2020-179
I refer to your request for information dated 6 November 2020, which was received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) on 6 November 2020. You have requested the
following:
“There is an API that provides realtime information about public transport in Wellington
avaliable here https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/*. I am requesting all documentation for any API
avaliable
under
the
above
url,
for
example
(but
not
limited
to):
https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/FareZones
https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/StopSearch/lambton
https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/StopDepartures/5010
https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/StopNearby/-41.3431194/174.7706202
https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/ServiceLocation/1
https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/ServiceMap/1
An API is an Application Programming Interface (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_API) which
can be used to automatically (with a computer program) receive information from a webserver. For
example, https://www.metlink.org.nz/api/v1/StopSearch/lambton appears to list all stops which
have "lambton" in their name. Such APIs are widely used throughout the web, including by users who
wish to (for example) develop public transport routing and analysis applications.
Under the OIA, can you please provide all held information on this API, including the request and
response formats, including, but not limited to: request structure and parameters; a list of API
endpoints, and any other documentation on this API.”
Wellington office
Upper Hutt
Masterton office
0800 496 734
PO Box 11646
PO Box 40847
PO Box 41
www.gw.govt.nz
Manners St, Wellington 6142
1056 Fergusson Drive
Masterton 5840
[Wellington Regional Council request email]
Following you lodging your original request on 6 November 2020, on 12 November 2020 we
informed you that new APIs have been developed, and that the API referenced in your request will
be taken down in December when the new Metlink website is launched. Following our email to you,
you clarified your request on 12 November 2020 to the following:
“all held information on the newly developed APIs, including the request and response formats,
including, but not limited to: request structure and parameters; a list of API endpoints, and any other
documentation on the newly developed API.”
Greater Wellington’s response follows:
The information you have requested on the newly developed APIs is publicly available on the
developer portal, which you can access at
https://OpenData.gw.govt.nz.
Accordingly, I am refusing your request under section 17(d) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 as the information you have requested is publicly available.
If you have any concerns with the decision referred to in this letter, you have the right to request an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Yours sincerely
Scott Gallacher
General Manager, Metlink
Page 2 of 2