Driving Change: Meet The Women Keeping Hamilton Moving

Aotearoa’s largest bus operator, Kinetic, continues to shift gears on the gender imbalance in the transportation sector by getting more women behind the wheel — and in the driver's seat of change.

Before the end of the month, the latest cohort of Kinetic’s Women Up Front – Trainee Bus Driver program will be taking their new skills to the roads of Hamilton, keeping the city moving across a variety of major urban bus routes.

Designed specifically to support and empower women entering the bus driving profession, Women Up Front is not only helping to future-proof the workforce — it's also driving greater diversity, inclusion, and resilience across the transport sector.

The latest cohort of trainee drivers comes from a diverse range of backgrounds, but all share previous customer services experience. A key skill for their new role where strong interpersonal skills and a helpful attitude are the hallmark of a great bus driver.

Donnell Shaw is looking forward to a new career in the transport industry.

“I was looking for a new challenge when I saw the Women Up Front advert on Trade Me and thought it might be an exciting career change to make.

“The training has been insightful, we’ve obviously done a lot of driving, but also learnt de-escalation techniques and brushed up on customer service. The trainers themselves are awesome and it’s a very friendly atmosphere to walk into each morning.

“I’m really looking forward to what the future holds, and I hope to see more women joining the industry because I know they’ve got what it takes. If I can do it, so can you!”

Hamilton Operations Manager Kellie Martin, who spent her first four years with Kinetic as an urban bus driver believes representation is the key to recruiting more women into the industry.

“The transport sector is heavily dominated by men which may be one of the reasons women are less likely to consider a career as a bus driver. As we begin to see more female bus drivers on our roads, the likelihood other women will consider the career for themselves continues to grow.

“It can be a bit daunting getting behind the wheel for the first time, but you can see the trainee’s confidence start to build as we progress through the program, and it only continues to grow as they transition from trainee to fully qualified bus driver.”

As New Zealand moves toward a more connected and sustainable future, public transport will play a crucial role in keeping our communities moving. Women Up Front provides a comprehensive, fully paid, four-week training program, that enables recruits to upgrade from a full car license to a Class 2 (medium vehicle) with passenger endorsement. Recruits are offered on-going mentoring and support to help them excel in their new role.

With the addition of the latest cohort of women drivers, the program is continuing to boost female driver representation, driving Kinetic New Zealand closer to its goal of 40% women drivers by 2030.

About Kinetic in New Zealand

Kinetic New Zealand is the largest bus operator in the country and proudly the largest operator of zero-emission buses in the region, with over 320 electric buses and 13 electrified depots. It employs over 4,500 people across its Kinetic Urban, Go Bus, Johnston’s, and SkyBus brands.

Kinetic New Zealand is a trusted transport partner for local councils and is the largest provider of school transport services for the Ministry of Education. The company also delivers premium charter and tourism services nationwide. In 2025, Kinetic New Zealand was named an HRD 5-Star Employer of Choice, recognising its strong people-first culture and commitment to creating an exceptional place to work.

For more information visit wearekinetic.co.nz

About Kinetic

Kinetic is the largest bus operator in Australasia and a leading multi-modal mass transit operator globally through its subsidiary Go-Ahead. Kinetic’s network includes 12,000 buses, 36,000 people and 200 depots. Kinetic proudly operates 1,200 zero-emission buses (ZEB) across 33 ZEB depots worldwide and is the leading ZEB operator in Australasia and the UK. Kinetic’s mission is to enhance the communities in which it operates, and this is achieved through delivering on its sustainability priorities.

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