Winners at Waka!

May 6, 2009


Waka Pacific, the Counties Manukau bus service was launched a new look in February this year.

"The launch of Waka Pacific is about being part of the community we serve. We're proud of the vibrant and rich artistic community of Counties Manakau," says Warren Fowler, General Manager Waka Pacific. "We want our customers to see 'their' buses as part of their community."

"Waka Pacific's three designs were inspired by the community in which it operates. One is inspired by a mural in the Otara town centre one was designed by the Papakura District Council's kaitiaki forum with assistance from the council's arts advisor the third was based on the many vibrant lava-lavas of the Pacific."

"For the fourth design we went public. We asked the public to participate and design their own bus. Our intention was to select one winner," says Mr Fowler. "Very quickly, it became evident that given the outstanding quality of the entries we were going to have to run with more than one design," says Mr Fowler.

With over 1100 entries, six finalists were selected. And the public of Counties Manakau was invited to vote on their winning design. The four winners were determined by a public vote held through the Mai FM website, together with a vote by the people who work for Waka Pacific.

The winners of the Waka Pacific "Design a Bus" competition have been announced. They are:

  • Hinano Wearing, Weymouth
  • Martin Langdon, Papatoetoe
  • Pallavi Talwar, Papatoetoe
  • Junior Faimasasa, East Tamaki

"The team at Waka Pacific are thrilled with the four new bus designs. We can't wait to see them on the buses,” says Mr Fowler. "We will have designs on our buses that are created by, and reflective of, our local community.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken part in the competition, either by entering, or by voting for their favourite design through Mai FM. We've really had a sense throughout the competition that the community was on board."

Each winner will receive $1000 and one year's free travel on Waka Pacific buses, valued at $2040.

Waka Pacific has 133 buses and provides over 58,000 trips per year to approximately 6.5 million passengers across 17 main routes.

Buses painted in the four new designs will take to the streets in June.

 


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