Decades of experience behind every journey
Fleet Manager (City & Panmure Depots) Paul Overend with Iain Brown (centre) and Kinetic New Zealand Managing Director Calum Haslop
Every day, thousands of New Zealanders rely on Kinetic buses to get them safely to work, school, appointments and home again. Behind every journey is a team of skilled engineers and technicians whose experience, knowledge and commitment help keep our fleet on the road.
Recently, our Auckland and Wellington Engineering teams came together to recognise colleagues celebrating long service milestones, from five years through to an incredible 50 years. In total, 34 team members across five workshops were recognised, representing more than 500 years of service. Collectively, our engineering teams across Auckland and Wellington bring more than 1,260 years of experience to work every day.
While those numbers are impressive, it's what they represent that matters most.
Every year of service reflects expertise built through thousands of repairs, preventative maintenance inspections, technical challenges and an industry that has continually evolved over the decades. It represents people who have adapted to new technologies, embraced change and helped maintain the high standards that keep our buses safe and reliable for the communities we serve.
It also represents something equally important: the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Kinetic New Zealand General Manager Engineering – Auckland & Wellington, Lee Robinson, said the long service milestones reflected the depth of experience across the engineering team.
"Our industry has changed enormously over the years, but one thing hasn't changed – it's our people who keep our fleet moving safely every day," he said.
"The experience across our workshops has been built over generations. It's reflected not only in the quality of the work our teams do, but also in the way experienced technicians mentor apprentices, share knowledge and help prepare the next generation. That's something we're incredibly proud of."
Among those recognised was Wellington technician Daniel "Danny" Ruru, who reached the extraordinary milestone of 50 years with the business. Throughout his career, Danny has not only helped maintain countless vehicles but has also mentored generations of apprentices, passing on the technical expertise, professionalism and pride in workmanship that continue to shape our engineering teams today.
Fleet Manager (Kilbirnie) Nicolas Lubbe with Daniel 'Danny' Ruru
The event also celebrated three other remarkable milestones. Auckland's Iain Brown marked 50 years with the business, having built a career that began behind the wheel before progressing into leadership as a Service Team Supervisor.
Auckland's New Lynn Workshop Manager Wayne West-Barron also reached the outstanding milestone of 40 years, reflecting decades of leadership, commitment and dedication to developing people and maintaining high standards across multiple workshops. Auckland's Swanson Workshop Manager Mike House also celebrated 40 years of service and was recognised for his reliability, professionalism and willingness to support those around him, with decades of knowledge and experience that continue to strengthen the team.
In Wellington, Baldev "Buds" Naran celebrated 40 years of service, recognised not only for his technical expertise but also for the positive attitude and willingness to support those around him that have made him a respected member of the workshop team.
Beyond long service milestones, Wellington team members Carla and Elton Steinhobel were recognised for their professionalism, teamwork and commitment to supporting their colleagues and the wider Kilbirnie workshop, consistently demonstrating the values we strive to uphold as a business.
As Kinetic continues investing in the future of public transport, the knowledge and experience of our people remain one of our greatest strengths. Their expertise helps us embrace new technologies, adapt to changing industry demands and continue delivering the safe, reliable services our customers depend on every day.
Congratulations to everyone recognised and thank you for choosing to build your career with Kinetic. The experience you've built over the years continues to strengthen our engineering teams and helps keep New Zealand moving every day.