NEW ZEALAND
Kinetic, which is the majority shareholder in the Go-Ahead Group, has unveiled a double-deck ‘Pride bus’ carrying a rainbow display to promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
The rainbow-wrapped bus was launched in February to coincide with the start of Auckland’s ‘Pride Month’ and the Auckland Pride Festival. Featuring the words ‘You are Loved,’ the operator says the 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 the city.
Transport authority Auckland Transport welcomed the 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,” said Director of Public Transport Stacey van der Putten. “AT is pleased to have another LGBTQIA+ ally in Kinetic, to spread this important message of inclusion across our great city.”
Auckland Pride Festival Executive Director Julia Croft said Kinetic’s sponsorship of the festival, where it will be providing free shuttles, and provision of this bus was a great addition to the event. “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.” she said.
Kinetic launched its first Pride bus at its SkyBus Melbourne division in 2022, and its rainbow-coloured fleet has now grown to 12 vehicles across the company’s networks in Australia, where there are 10, and New Zealand, where a second bus is in service in Wellington.
Kinetic Managing Director for New Zealand Calum Haslop said the new Pride bus represents a visible symbol of the operator’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,” he said. “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.”
