This month as we mark 90 years of Ritchies Transport, I’ve been reflecting on what really matters in the industry we serve.
We have grown over the decades from a single diesel bus to a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles. From a humble family team starting a small service in their local community to a national operator providing safe and reliable services.
Progress isn’t only about the size of our fleet or the number of depots or team members.
It’s about our purpose and our people, the way we’ve adapted and can step up to challenges, support one another and serve our communities with care.
That spirit is clear in the work happening at our new depots in Glenfield, Māngere and Ascot in the Auckland region. These sites aren’t just new buildings — they represent a new chapter, where innovation, sustainability, and opportunity come together.
Eye opening progress
I travelled to Europe and China with some of our operational team to meet with key suppliers, as we prepared for new services beginning in west and south Auckland. It was an eye-opening trip.
The scale of investment and technical progress in electric fleet and related technologies globally is remarkable. It reminds me of just how fast our industry is changing, and how important it is that we keep moving forward together.
Our vision at Ritchies is to drive passenger transport to a sustainable future and that is becoming more of a reality.
- Our new zero emission buses are equipped with cutting-edge safety technology designed to protect passengers, pedestrians, and every road user.
- Each bus features advanced driver assistance systems, collision avoidance, lane departure warnings, pedestrian and cyclist detection, AI fatigue scanning, and protective driver screens.
We now operate at a scale and with advantages that would have been unimaginable 90 years ago when Johnny and Marie (‘Ma’) Ritchie first began bus services in the South Island town of Temuka.
While we may be at the forefront, we are not alone in the industry adapting and progressing – with the passengers of public and other bus services in Aotearoa the beneficiaries.
Michele Kernahan
Ritchies CEO
