Kinetic unveils bold rainbow display of inclusion in Auckland

The streets of Auckland are now shining a little brighter with Kinetic unveiling a double decker ‘Pride Bus’ adorned with a bold rainbow display to drive LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

The rainbow-wrapped bus was launched in February to coincide with the start of Auckland Pride Month and the Auckland Pride Festival in partnership with Auckland Transport and Mediaworks.

Featuring the words “You are Loved”, the Pride Bus is a symbol of inclusion not only for sexual diversity but gender diverse and marginalised people within the LGBTQIA+ community, sending a clear message to visitors and the community that everyone should feel safe, respected, and welcome in Auckland.

Auckland Transport welcomed the Pride Bus saying it would help champion the message that Auckland was a progressive city welcoming of everyone.

“Auckland Transport is proud to have a high-profile bus adorned with the Pride Flag in our fleet. Not only does it show our support, but it also tells our Rainbow Communities they are loved and cherished public transport users alongside all our other passengers,” Stacey van der Putten, Director Public Transport & Active Modes says.

“AT is pleased to have another LGBTQIA+ ally in Kinetic, to spread this important message of inclusion across our great city.”

Auckland Pride Festival 2024 runs from February 1-29. Auckland Pride Festival Executive Director Julia Croft said Kinetic’s sponsorship of the festival, and provision of this bus was a great addition to the event.

She says she looks forward to Kinetic providing free shuttles for the Pride March and Party later this month.

“Auckland Pride is committed to ensuring that Tāmaki Makaurau's Takātapui and Rainbow communities are not just surviving but thriving, and that Pride reflects the very best of rainbow Aotearoa.” Ms Croft says.

Kinetic launched its first Pride Bus at SkyBus Melbourne in 2022, and this rainbow-coloured fleet has now grown to 12 across the company’s networks in Australia and New Zealand.

This marks Kinetic’s second Pride Bus in New Zealand, following the launch of a rainbow-adorned vehicle in Wellington last year.

Kinetic Managing Director New Zealand Calum Haslop says this new Pride Bus was a visible symbol of Kinetic’s commitment to recognising and supporting all sexualities, genders, identities and cultures in the workplace and the communities it serves.

“The Auckland Pride Festival will see the city come alive this month celebrating diversity, inclusion and compassion and that will be something we hope people think about each time they see this bus drive past them,” Mr Haslop says.

“Our involvement in the festival is about supporting people so they know they are seen; they are cared for and they are loved – and should always feel safe and comfortable being themselves on our buses and when joining our team to be part of the change we want to see in the community.”

You will be able to see the Pride Bus operating across the central isthmus of the city.

To learn more about inclusion at Kinetic, visit wearekinetic.com/sustainability/lgbtqi-inclusion.

Further enquiries
Russell Turnbull
+64 21 797 314
russell.turnbull@wearekinetic.co.nz