Tauranga Bus Driver Receives National Honour

Preston Chen spends a large portion of his week helping to keep Tauranga moving, both behind the wheel of a bus, and through the work he does behind the scenes to help improve efficiency for fellow bus drivers in Tauranga.

Since beginning his journey with Kinetic New Zealand, the company behind Baybus services in 2020, Chen has used his expertise and experience from a previous career in IT to develop a number of innovative tools that have streamlined processes across the depot.

Along with 3D printing an advanced cash box, Chen developed two apps, one that allows drivers to easily share their roster with loved ones, and another that makes it possible to view real-time feedback from their routes based on General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data.

Chen’s dedication to creating a better working environment was recognised during Kinetic Tauranga’s recent Rewards and Recognition ceremony, where he received Kinetic New Zealand’s Urban Driver of the Quarter Award.

Kinetic’s General Manager Operations – Central North Island, Ranga Perumbuli Arachchige, said the awards are an opportunity to recognise team members who have gone above and beyond in their role whilst embodying the company’s core values of passion, respect, integrity, humility and authenticity.

“People are at the heart of our business. Our drivers interact with hundreds of people across the Bay of Plenty every day, and together with our office-based and workshop teams, keep our region moving.

"Rewards and Recognition is a way for us to acknowledge and celebrate the individuals who have taken extra steps to ensure our customers have the best possible experience navigating our services.

“It was an honour to announce Preston as the Urban Driver of the Quarter and recognise the outstanding efforts of our team with the presentation of numerous regional awards.”

The Driver of the Quarter Award is determined by Kinetic New Zealand’s Urban Senior Leadership Team following a nomination period where general managers across the country are invited to put forward outstanding members of their teams.

To be eligible, drivers must have a clean driving record, receive consistently positive feedback, and demonstrate behaviour that goes over and above the expectations of their job.

Regional award winners are nominated by Kinetic Tauranga’s leadership team and celebrated across several categories including Rising Star, Sprit of Service, and Unsung Hero, with awards for both the first and second quarter of 2025 presented.

The quarterly Rewards and Recognition awards are proudly supported by Bay of Plenty Regional Council and are part of Kinetic’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and rewarding workplace culture. Earlier this year, the organisation was recognised with an HRD 5-star Employer of Choice award from Human Resources Director, an international forum for Human Resources specialists.

Full list of award recipients

Rising Star

Selene Larae & Hikitia Gallagher

Over and Above

Darwin Laid & Arun Matthews

Spirit of Service

Colin Graham & Linda Rorvik

Inspiration Colleague

Ryan Huang & Lorelle Bell

Unsung Hero

Ramandeep Kaur & the Health & Safety Committee

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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