Kinetic Recognised Amongst Aotearoa’s Top Employers For Second Consecutive Year

For the second consecutive year, Kinetic New Zealand has been named a HRD 5-star Employer of Choice, recognising the strength of its workplace culture and the experience it offers its people.

The annual HRD Employer of Choice Awards recognises organisations leading in employee engagement, workplace culture and people practices. Kinetic remains the only bus operator in New Zealand to receive the leading industry award.

Kinetic New Zealand Managing Director, Calum Haslop, says the recognition reflects the momentum Kinetic is building in strengthening its workplace experience across the country.

“To be recognised for a second year shows the momentum we’re building as a business. Over the past year, we’ve continued to strengthen the experience we offer our people, and it’s great to see that reflected in how they feel about working at Kinetic.”

As New Zealand’s largest bus operator, with more than 4,000 employees nationwide, Kinetic has continued to invest in its people through leadership development, improved communication tools, and rising engagement across the business, reflected in increased participation and improved results in the employee surveys.

“We are always looking at ways we can better support our people across the country,” says Nicky Harrison, Director of People, Culture & Safety.

“Over the past year, that’s included strengthening development pathways, improving how we communicate across the business, and responding to employee feedback to shape a better workplace experience.”

An example of this progress is the “Women Up Front – Trainee Bus Driver” program, with 143 women joining Kinetic as drivers over the past year. Many of these team members are already stepping into mentoring, supervisory and operational roles, demonstrating the long-term impact of the programme.

“It’s been great to see how quickly many of these women are progressing and building long-term careers with Kinetic,” says Nicky.

This is supported by continued investment in learning and development across the business, including leadership programs for both frontline and senior leaders, as well as the ongoing development of Kinetic’s digital Learning Hub.

Kinetic New Zealand has also achieved Rainbow Tick accreditation, recognising its focus on creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive workplace where everyone feels supported.

Beyond the workplace, Kinetic launched its Moving Communities Fund in New Zealand, supporting grassroots organisations making a difference in the communities it serves, alongside the many other ways its teams support local activity throughout the year.

The HRD 5-Star Employers of Choice awards recognise organisations that excel in people practices and creating inclusive, engaging workplaces, based on employee feedback, independent analysis, and industry review.

Being recognised for a second consecutive year reflects the progress Kinetic has made and its ongoing commitment to building a workplace where people can grow and thrive.

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