A boost in the public transport system will bring new job opportunities for Tauranga says Kiwi Bus Builders managing director Richard Drummond.

A fleet of 53 double-decker buses will be hinting Auckland roads from October. The announcement was made by Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Auckland Transport chairman Dr Lester Levy at Kiwi Bus Builders today.

Dr Lester Levy (left) Simon Bridges and Richard Drummond look through the frame of one of the new double-decker buses. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Changes to the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) rule also released today, will allow local government and other road controlling authorities to issue permits for high capacity buses, including double-decker buses, in our major cities - starting in Auckland.

'High capacity buses will put extra seats on key routes, particularly during peak periods — improving efficiency on public transport routes that are reaching capacity and playing a significant role in dealing with city congestion,” Mr Bridges says.

'Double-decker buses will now be able to operate at full capacity in Auckland, and Wellington councils are also exploring the use of larger buses to address constraints on their network.”

Kiwi Bus Builders has been given the contract to build 38 of the 53 new buses needed for Auckland's public transport system.

Richard the managing director and Kiwi Bus Builders founder says the new contract is a $5 million dollar boost for his company based at the 1.8ha site in the Tauriko Business Estate.

'For us, we have to hire another 45 people to carry those contracts. Straight away that means 45 new jobs for Tauranga and there is a desire to continue this on. So we are hoping those jobs will continue to be full-time jobs.”

Dr Lester says he was confident more buses would be needed for Auckland.

'Buses are the spine, the backbone of the public transport system in Auckland. Seventy five per cent of all public transport in Auckland this last year have been by bus… Congestion is Auckland's biggest problem and it's a complex problem and we cannot solve it unless we all work together.”

The new buses are being introduced by three of the main operators in Auckland – NZ Bus (23 buses), Howick & Eastern (15 buses) and Richies (15 buses). Each can carry more than 100 passengers. With the exception of two 'proto-type” vehicles built in the United Kingdom, the Howick and Eastern and NZ Bus fleets will be manufactured in Tauranga. The Ritchies buses will be built in China and will be delivered and operational in January next year.