The news about the new NZTA nationwide solution (which will be used first in Wellington first) isn't new - it's been widely known about for a year and I know a couple of people who have already been involved with it.

My point about Snapper was in reference to the card - when most people think of Snapper they think solely of the card - they do not think about the backend system and clearing house that make the system work. By replacing the Snapper card with a tokenisation based credit card or other NFC card you're replacing a very small part of the overall Snapper system. 

The very same backend fare systems and clearing house are required. The move to tokenisation introduces lots of complexities, and also brings restrictions on how fares can be priced and offered which is why as I mentioned above physical Oyster cards are still the most common way of paying in London simply because tokenisation can't deliver everything.