Welcome aboard Waka Pacific
16 February 2009
From today, buses will take to the streets of Counties Manukau with a new name, a new look and a new attitude.
The former Stagecoach buses operating out of the Wiri depot are being rebranded:
Bruce Emson, CEO NZ Bus says, “The redesign of this bus service is about being part of the community we serve. Our services have been rebranded to reflect these communities. We want our customers to see ‘their’ buses as part of their community.”
“The North Shore ‘owns’ North Star and West Aucklanders are fiercely proud of their GO WEST service,” says Mr Emson. “With its distinctive design and iconic colouring, Metrolink buses are easily recognisable as central Auckland’s bus service. Now, it’s Counties Manukau’s turn.”
“To create the design, we went out into the different communities to find out how they represent themselves,” says Zane Fulljames, General Manager Operations. “We loved the vibrant and rich artistic tradition we found. We wanted their bus service to reflect this heritage.”
“Very quickly we decided that such a diverse community needed more than one design for its bus service,” says Mr Fulljames. “So, we have three designs. 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.”
“A fourth design will be the subject of a design competition. We know this is a creative community; it will be exciting to see the entries.”
“Public transport is about serving the customer,” Mr Fulljames continues. “To help achieve this we’ve invested in training for our people. Customer service training will ensure our people have the tools they need to be able to deliver the right attitude and provide the highest quality service for our customers.”
Waka Pacific has 133 buses and provides over 58,000 trips per year to approximately 6.5 million passengers across 17 main routes.
Waka Pacific officially launches on 16 February
-ends-
For more information, please contact:
Siobhan O’Donovan, Communications Manager
021 840 839
Further information:
Design number one:
This design is based on a mural from the Otara town centre. The mural was commissioned by Manukau City Council in 2000. It spans a courtyard and a number of buildings in the town centre.
Terry Klavenes brought together a number of local artists to work on the large scale mural. One of the artists, Henry Wilson, died a few months before the mural was started. Henry was a well-known and well-respected artist and musician. He had served the local community for many years, working, in particular, with young people helping them express themselves through art.
“We designed the mural to reflect Henry’s very Pacific style. I think it’s a tribute to his art and to the work he did in the community to have Henry’s work now reflected on the Waka Pacific buses,” says Terry Klavenes.
Design number two:
The second bus design was influenced by the many lava lavas worn throughout the community. The graduation of vibrant colour, and the strong floral theme, connects with the flamboyant cultures that make up Manukau City and its surrounds, particularly reflecting its South Pacific theme.
Design number three:
For the third design we approached the Papakura District Council for their input. We worked closely with the council’s arts advisor and kaitiaki forum, which is made up of representatives of Papakura’s five iwi.
“From pre-European times, Papakura has been the gateway for people travelling north or south. Maori now make up a quarter of Papakura’s population and we thought it important for the Waka Pacific buses to reflect that,” says Papakura District Council arts advisor Rhoda Fowler.
“The design that was created is a visual representation of council and Kaitiaki working together,” she says.
Kaitiaki forum member Willie Brown designed the Waka outline elements. He described his drawing as such:
- The Waka shape represents water
- The front of the waka, shaped like a bird beak, represents the air
- The circle motions are the hapu and iwi that moved amongst the land
- The rises above the circles represent the three pa, Makatu, Pukekiwiriki and Te Aparangi
- The lines are the gardens that represent food storage, and the cooperation between Maori and the early missionaries. They brought fruit trees, and in return, Maori provided transport and protection. The spirit of working together meant both parties prospered together.
The fourth design
We are having a competition to create a fourth design. The competition will launch in February and will be open to any member of the Counties Manukau public.