NEWS
This archive features key stories from our monthly newsletters. For any further information email: communications@ritchies.co.nz
Nov 2023
Ritchies is investing to improve operational efficiency and the customer experience, choosing GIRO’s world leading software HASTUS to optimise scheduling and dispatching across all depots. Read more
May 2023
After months of talks the Government has finalised an agreement for the transport sector that’s going to help ease our driver shortage. Bus drivers have now been added to the immigration ‘green list’ with a two-year work to residence pathway. Read more
December 2022
Ritchies has doubled services on our popular Queenstown to Wanaka route this month. Pete Simpkin, Director of SkyDrive businesses says it’s another sign of recovery and growth. Read more
August 2020
Members of the senior leadership team have been out and about at depots the past month following up on the commitment to meet more of the Ritchies team around the country. Read more
July 2022
There’s excitement across our operational teams at the plans to expand Ritchies electric fleet and introduce Dunedin to its first zero-emissions buses from next year. Read more
June 2022
Auckland Transport and Ritchies have recently celebrated 10,000 rides on a new fully electric on-demand service we are trialling out of our Takanini depot. Read more
November 2023
After months of talks the Government has finalised an agreement for the transport sector that’s going to help ease our driver shortage. Bus drivers have now been added to the immigration ‘green list’ with a two-year work to residence pathway.
It’s a move welcomed by our Director of People Sharon Scott. “There’s no doubt this will be a huge help for us, attracting drivers,” she says. “It gives people coming in and those already here a little more certainty about their new life as part of Team Ritchies, and their future in their new home country.”
National Recruitment Manager, Petra Jackson, says it allows us to recruit for more regions. “With these announcements we have had an influx of overseas applicants. We are currently focusing these candidates into the Otago and Auckland regions, given that’s where we have our greatest number of vacancies. We are also actively recruiting offshore diesel mechanics into a variety of locations”.
If you know of anyone wanting to join Team Ritchies, please direct them to our careers site - careers.ritchies.co.nz
January 2023
Ritchies has doubled services on our popular Queenstown to Wanaka route from this month. Pete Simpkin, Director of Tours and SkyDrive businesses says it’s another sign of the recovery and growth potential for tourism in central Otago and the rest of New Zealand.
“Queenstown and Wanaka are central to the vibrant tourism economy in the region and we believe this commitment will be a shot in the arm for operators and locals alike.”
The daily services in the south are coming under the highly successful SkyDrive Express brand and bookings for both can now be made via the SkyDrive website – skydrive.co.nz
August 2022
Members of the senior leadership team have been out and about at depots the past month following up on the commitment to meet more of the Ritchies team around the country.
With all that’s going on across the business it is sometimes hard for managers to get out of the office and away from other daily duties, but CEO Michele Kernahan and others have been doing all they can to visit sites and teams and catch up with people face-to-face.
(Photo galltery top row l to r) Samir Ranchhod, Director of Technology and HR Director Sharon Scott visiting Abros Place in Christchurch. CEO Michele Kernahan and EV consultant Claire Stewart in Christchurch with Urban Transport Manager, Michelle Clemence (right) heading into a meeting with one of our customers ECAN. Michele and Dunedin driver Amy Martin; (Middle row l to r) Michele and VP Operations Pete Simpkin visiting Gore’s workshop team, in Dunedin with General Manager, Greg Cox and looking around the Gore yard. (Bottom row l to r) Michele checking out our smallest ‘office’ in Balclutha, morning tea in Dunedin and Pete meeting driver Richard Ayers
July 2022
There’s excitement across our operational teams at the plans to expand Ritchies electric fleet and introduce Dunedin to its first zero-emissions buses from next year.
The Otago Regional Council has confirmed we’ve won the contract for new routes next year with 11 electric buses going into service. Dunedin General Manager, Greg Cox, says the whole team is excited about the opportunities coming up and there’ll be a lot of training, new skills to learn and a lot of planning to make it happen. It definitely has Otago drivers buzzing.
Shane Boyes, Driver (centre), “It’s an incredible coup for us. We’ve beaten the opposition to this work and I think it’s very exciting. We’ll be seen as the trendsetter in terms of environmental sustainability and I can’t wait to drive these buses – it’s very exciting as a driver. I’m wondering how they’ll go up the hills!”
Rod Hands, Driver (right), “It’s a great thing, showing that Ritchies is moving forward. I’ve had no background in electric buses and it’ll be interesting - a completely different driving experience. They’ll be super quiet around neighbourhoods late at night and the zero emissions and efficiency is a real positive.”
June 2022
By Sean Hayes, Ritchies South Auckland General Manager
Auckland Transport and Ritchies have recently celebrated 10,000 rides on a new fully electric on-demand service we are trialling out of our Takanini depot.
Electric or sustainable public transport is the way of the future so we’re incredibly proud to be involved in pilots of this kind across Ritchies – the team in South Canterbury’s also been piloting on demand services My Way by Metro in Timaru.
At Takanini, the AT Local service initially replaced the regular bus route between Takanini and Papakura train stations and has since been expanded to cover Conifer Grove and Waiata Shores. We are running 6 electric vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers at one of 400 designated meeting points, encouraging people to leave their vehicles at home and reduce carbon emissions. Our drivers enjoy knowing they’re making a difference to carbon emissions and the public response has been really positive, partly because of great promotion of the service by AT and also the ease of use for customers who can order and track their ride via the AT Local app.
Electric infrastructure
Our team here at Takanini managed the required infrastructure project with AT - from site feasibility, specifying the technical and EV requirements to working with Vector to upgrade the local transformer and ECL Group to install the charging infrastructure. The team operate AT’s service Liftango software, monitoring real time bus usage, ironing out any software quirks and assessing the quality of vehicles, so continually improving the service. Morning and afternoon peak times are now fully booked and there are initiatives underway to improve ride-share capacity and to encourage additional customers to travel off peak.
Working together
We’ve had great support from Ritchies in South Canterbury who run a fantastic on-demand service with 8 diesel vehicles, collecting 500 plus passengers a day. Their ‘lessons learned’ have given us a real head start on a journey which could end up transforming public transport in New Zealand given the more people we can get ride sharing, the better - for the planet.
Watch AT’s video on the South Auckland service on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KETqyz1 ciaI]
