Become A Bus Operator
Being a bus operator at NZ Bus is a more rewarding and fulfilling career than most.
Bus operators have important roles in our business. Once you leave the depot, you are in sole charge of your day and the bus. You are also the day-to-day face of NZ Bus in our communities.
Your interaction with our customers means you can be social, helpful and understanding - every moment of every day is an opportunity to make a positive difference.
Becoming a bus operator with NZ Bus gives you the opportunity to develop professionally as we provide full training.
What we look for
Our bus operators are everyday people. They enjoy working with our customers, love to drive and at the end of the day, take pride in knowing they have done a great job.
Being a great bus operator is about being able to communicate clearly in English (both written and oral), dealing confidently and accurately with money and caring about keeping people safe.
Minimum requirements*
You will need to have held a full class 1 New Zealand drivers licence for at least two years and be eligible to work in New Zealand for 12 months or greater.
In addition to the training we provide, you will need to qualify for a Passenger Endorsement (P Endorsement) on your driver's licence which is issued by Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ). Once you have completed our training and have obtained the P Endorsement, you will be fully qualified to drive our buses.
Being a bus operator is a position of responsibility, so as part of obtaining your P Endorsement, a "fit and proper person test", will be completed by LTNZ. As part of our screening process, we will need to complete traffic and criminal background checks.
To find out more about traffic and criminal background checks click here.
To find out more about a P Endorsement, and what you need to do to qualify, click here.
*Meeting the minimum requirements
If you do not have a New Zealand drivers licence, you will need to gain a full Class 1 New Zealand Drivers Licence and then apply for an exemption. The exemption will only be considered if you have held your overseas licence for at least two years.
The following licensing agents can help you with your exemption:
- New Zealand Automobile Association (AA)
- Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)
- Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ)
Travelling on a Visitors VISA
If you are in New Zealand on a Visitors VISA, you will need to apply to Immigration New Zealand for a work permit or VISA and meet the criteria specified above. For more information about gaining eligibility to work in New Zealand, go to www.immigration.govt.nz.
If you meet the minimum requirements for becoming a bus operator, click here to find out more and register your details with us.
