New bus drivers in pipeline

Tranzurban, one of Metlink’s largest bus operators, has set itself an ambitious target to recruit 75 new drivers by 31 March.

Thanks to an increase in local interest, new immigration pathways and two new recruitment campaigns rolling out they are confident these targets will be achieved.

In fact, they are already halfway there.

Tranzurban has more than 40 new bus drivers in the pipeline to drive Metlink’s Wellington City, Porirua and Hutt Valley public transport services.

During 2022, Tranzurban Hutt Valley achieved a near full complement of bus drivers, the first time since before the pandemic,.

However Tranzurban Wellington still needs about 40 full time drivers, having been impacted more heavily by the national driver shortage that’s affecting many towns and cities throughout New Zealand and across the world.

Job offers have been made to 18 overseas drivers and, with immigration processing going to plan, they should start local training in March, Tranzurban Wellington General Manager Samuel Stairmand says.

A further 26 potential overseas drivers are at the interview phase and, if offered employment and with immigration processing going to plan, should start their local training in April.

Ten local recruits are also in training and are expected to be rostered into service from mid-February.

“Our recruitment efforts are ongoing, and we’ve started to see a change in the candidates interested in our driving roles,” Mr Stairmand says.

“We have more interest from locals and thanks to the borders reopening, new pathways for international drivers entering New Zealand, as well as significant pay increases for our drivers.

“We’ve also been able to look at overseas recruitment for the first time, which is yielding great results.”

Tranzurban’s recruitment efforts will be welcomed by public transport passengers who are feeling the impact of the national driver shortage through cancellations, Councillor Thomas Nash, Chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Transport Committee, says.

“Ensuring these local and overseas drivers are well looked after and get behind the wheel is the focus now.

“We know that job offers, visa processing and local training take time, but in the months to come these efforts will go a long way to reducing the 125 drivers Metlink needs to deliver its current timetable, help reduce the significant number of cancellations on the network, ensure more reliability to pas- sengers and, once we are back on track, to start expanding the frequency and reach of our network,” Cr Nash says.

“While our collective recruitment actions have hopefully prevented a worse crisis locally, we’ve long called for more national action to promote bus driving as an attractive career.

“That’s why it’s encouraging to see our council’s efforts to push for higher wages, a fair pay agreement and more open immigration settings paying off now with people showing enthusiasm locally and internationally to get behind the wheel of a bus and be part of this region’s highly valued public transport network,” Cr Nash adds.

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