Bus patronage is growing across New Zealand cities, but attracting passengers is only half the challenge, keeping them coming back is the real test, says Ritchies Transport’s newly appointed Director of Commercial, Anthony James.
The call comes as recent regional figures highlight a resurgence in bus travel:
- Auckland recorded 6.3 million bus trips in June, a 14% increase year-on-year and the highest June on record.
- Christchurch’s Metro services saw a 10% lift in April over 2025 with 120,000 additional passenger trips.
- Queenstown patronage grew 6% in the first half of this financial year to December 2025, compared with the same six months a year earlier.
Anthony, who brings over 25 years of public transport experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, says current growth is encouraging for cities tackling congestion, managing funding pressures, and working to reduce emissions.
“Network investment, more frequent services, and fare initiatives encourage people to try the bus, but their everyday experience determines whether it becomes a lasting habit,” he says.
“Patronage growth doesn’t come from one organisation or one initiative. It happens when transport authorities, operators, councils, and communities work together to make public transport a practical, attractive choice. Authorities bring the network vision and funding; operators bring the day-to-day delivery. Combining those perspectives is leading to better outcomes for passengers.”
Turning growth into a lasting habit
Anthony says patronage growth is sustained through thousands of reliable, ordinary journeys. The role of operators is simple: ensure buses turn up on time, run safely, and get people where they need to be. To support this, Ritchies is looking more deliberately at how its operational knowledge can support patronage growth. This includes using passenger feedback, boarding data and observations from drivers and local teams to identify changing demand and barriers that may be making services harder to use.
“Our drivers and local teams see every day how people experience the network. They know where services work well and where passengers face friction,” says Anthony. “Working alongside transport authorities, that insight can directly inform timetable reviews, service tweaks, or clearer passenger information.”
Having started his career as a Senior Transport Planner with Transport for London, Anthony has seen the sector undergo a fundamental shift in how networks are designed and managed. “Early in my career, planners relied on far more limited data and worked in greater isolation,” he says.
“Today, real-time passenger data and vehicle analytics give us a clear picture of daily performance. More importantly there is a much greater recognition now that the best services are co-developed. Transport authorities and operators are working together to turn those data insights into practical, everyday improvements.”
Decarbonisation is also playing a key role in attracting passengers. Clean, quiet electric buses are rapidly replacing diesel fleets on urban services, with Ritchies now a leading zero-emission provider. 30% of its depots nationwide are electrified to support charging infrastructure.
Strong foundation for future growth
Anthony joins the Ritchies Executive team after consulting for the company over the past year. Prior to this, he spent a decade in senior commercial and business development roles with Kinetic/NZ Bus and worked for Metro Tasmania and the former Auckland Regional Transport Authority as Public Transport Planning Manager. His expertise spans service design, network change analysis, fleet planning, and patronage growth strategies.
As passenger numbers continue to rise, Anthony says Ritchies is also preparing behind the scenes, ensuring workforce capacity, fleet readiness, and depot infrastructure will be able to support expanding networks without compromising reliability.
“The more people who feel confident choosing the bus, the greater the benefits for our communities and the environment,” he says. “That is a shared opportunity for transport authorities and operators, and one that Ritchies is proud to help deliver.”
