New Zealand's largest bus operator, NZ Bus, is making headway in addressing the national bus driver shortage. They've received positive responses from overseas recruitment efforts, with nearly 100 international candidates accepting job offers to drive buses in Wellington specifically.
This news comes as major cities like Wellington struggle with a lack of bus drivers, leading to frustrated commuters facing delays and reduced service. Wellington's public transport system has been particularly impacted, experiencing issues such as unreliable bus schedules, upcoming rail closures, and ferry crew shortages.
The situation has forced significant reductions in bus services. Wellington City and Porirua buses are currently operating on a limited Saturday schedule, representing a 20% decrease on top of previous service suspensions. This has caused overcrowding and long wait times at bus stops, as one frustrated motorist witnessed a large group of commuters waiting on Riddiford St. in Newtown.
However, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. A recent immigration policy change allows bus drivers a special two-year residency pathway, attracting overseas candidates.
NZ Bus, operating over 780 buses across Auckland, Wellington, and the Bay of Plenty, has seen success in its overseas recruitment drive. Their efforts have resulted in 100 suitable candidates accepting job offers in Wellington. Eight new drivers with approved visas have already arrived and will undergo training to obtain the necessary licenses. These drivers are expected to be on the road within two months, barring any delays in license processing by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
An additional 29 overseas driver candidates are awaiting visa approvals and are expected to join the Wellington team soon after. Ideally, NZ Bus aims to have two groups of international drivers starting training each month for the next quarter.
The company is also ramping up domestic recruitment efforts in the Wellington region. These combined initiatives represent an investment exceeding $1.5 million, demonstrating NZ Bus's commitment to improving service reliability for Wellington commuters.
The government is also contributing to the solution with a $61 million allocation to increase driver wages. This is expected to raise Wellington bus driver salaries to $30 per hour this year, following an earlier increase to $27 per hour implemented by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in 2021.
The Regional Council's Transport Committee Chair, Thomas Nash, expressed his satisfaction with the overseas interest generated by NZ Bus and his eagerness to see more drivers on the road to restore regular service schedules.
"We acknowledge the critical bus driver shortage in New Zealand, which is particularly acute in Wellington, a city with the highest bus ridership in the country," Nash stated. He apologized for the inconvenience caused to commuters and emphasized the council's ongoing efforts to address the issue.
While Wellington buses will transition back to their normal (though still reduced) schedule by January 30th, commuters can expect some challenges until then. Reports have surfaced of overcrowded buses, such as the #23 route to Houghton Bay being full from Willis St., leaving passengers behind, including a mother with young children.
These are the growing pains as Wellington works towards a more reliable and efficient public transport system.