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Cookies Cookies

What are cookies?

"Cookies" are pieces of information that a website transfers to an individual's device’s hard drive for record-keeping purposes. The cookie assigns that device an ID that allows Auckland Transport to recognise it when it is used to access an Auckland Transport website.

We use cookies on Auckland Transport websites to collect standard internet log information and details of our visitors’ behaviour patterns in order to obtain statistics of the number of visits and the popular parts of those websites. These statistics are gathered and used for the purposes of advertising, and analysing, evaluating, and improving the content of Auckland Transport’s websites.

These cookies include:

Essential cookies: Some cookies are necessary for the core functionality of sites. Our websites cannot function properly without these.

Analytical cookies: These help us study user behaviour, mostly to see if site users can find what they are looking for and can act on it. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and see how they move around our website.

Advertising cookies: These cookies may be used to collect information to develop campaigns and target audiences for more personalised communications. 

When you are logged into your Facebook or Google accounts while visiting our website, Facebook or Google may receive your information or activity on our website. More information about your Facebook Ad preferences can be found on their website, and more information about Google Analytics’ privacy practices can be found at Google’s privacy policy and terms of use.

How we use cookies

Advertising, and analysing website and app usage

We use Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Google Floodlight, Google Firebase, and Siteimprove to analyse how customers use our website and apps. This information helps us meet your needs and identify improvements to our digital services, content, and user experience. This data is also shared with other Google services where it may be used to personalise advertising to match your online profile.

Google Tag Manager is used to manage tags (snippet of JavaScript that sends information to a third party, such as Google) on our site and apps.

Tags we use are:

  • Google Analytics
  • Google Floodlight
  • Google Firebase (currently only used in our AT Mobile app)
  • Siteimprove

Google Tag Manager does not set cookies. See Google Tag Manager Terms of Service and Google privacy policy for more information.

Google Analytics stores information about:

  • the pages you visit
  • how long you spend on each page
  • how you got to the site
  • what you click on while you’re visiting the site.

Google Analytics sets the following cookies:

Google Analytics

Name Purpose Expires
_ga Unique identifier so we can distinguish and count unique visitors to the site 2 years
_gat Used to manage the rate at which page view requests are made  10 minutes 

Google Floodlight

Floodlight is a tracking system for tags that can measure the effectiveness of advertising and marketing campaigns. We use it to track activity on our webpages to see what a user is doing when they visit our site.

We use Google Firebase in our AT Mobile app. Google Firebase is a collection of tools that help app owners add core features such as analytics, notifications, and crash reporting to their iOS and Android apps. The features we use are:

  • Analytics – analyse user behaviour and demographics, so that we can improve content and user experience. The type of information collected, includes:

    • the number of users and sessions
    • session duration
    • operating system
    • device model
    • geography
    • first launch
    • app open
    • app update.
  • Remote config – push out minor app updates without users having to download a new version.
  • Crash reporting – monitors our app for errors.
  • Notifications – send notifications to app users.
  • Dynamic links – create universal links that work across web, iOS and Android.

Google Firebase uses cookies, anonymous identifiers for mobile devices (eg Android Advertising Identifier or Advertising Identifier for iOS) or similar technology to collect data. Find out more about how Google uses data when you use their partners' sites or apps.

You can opt out of advertisement tracking on iOS and Android in your device settings. Notifications can be turned off in the AT Metro app settings. We currently do not have an option for users to disable Firebase analytics or crash reporting.

We do not collect or store your personal information (e.g. your name or address), so this information can’t be used to identify who you are. We don’t allow Google to use or share our analytics data.

Google reCAPTCHA

To protect our website from malicious attacks and spam, we use Google reCAPTCHA. This helps us ensure that actions on our website are performed by humans, not bots.

Google reCAPTCHA may process cookies stored on your device to collect certain information.

The data collected by Google reCAPTCHA is subject to Google's Privacy Policy (opens in a new tab) and Terms of Service (opens in a new tab).

Microsoft Clarity

We use Microsoft Clarity to understand how you use our website. It captures behavioural metrics, heatmaps and session replays. This data helps us to improve and market our products and services.

Microsoft Clarity uses first and third-party cookies and other tracking technologies to capture website usage data. This shows online activity and the popularity of products and services. We also use this information for site optimisation and fraud/security purposes.

For more information about how Microsoft collects and uses your data, visit the Microsoft Privacy Statement (opens in a new tab).

Remembering preferences and selections

Some cookies store your selections and settings so when you return to the site, we can present you with information customised to fit your needs.