'Fast, friendly, affordable” boasts the livery on the front of the big red double decker bus parked in Wharf Street. And soon, gone.

From next month, Manabus will disappear from Wharf Street and from State Highway 2, to and from Auckland.

ManaBus and NakedBus have confirmed it will cease its budget bus operations with potentially 50 staff affected.

Tickets will no longer be for sale after July 15 and customers who have bought tickets in advance, have been offered full refunds via email, says a statement on the Manabus website.

The Manabus and Naked Bus fleets have been sold to Ritchies Transport holdings. But it's not known if that company will pick up the Auckland to Tauranga run.

The companies are part of InMotion Group, which also operates Fullers, 360 Discovery, Roam Experiences and Waiheke Bus Company.

And the budget bus operations have been sacrificed to focus on the company's ferry services in the Hauraki Gulf.

It believes that has considerable potential due to rising visitor numbers. InterCity will continue to run services between Tauranga and Auckland.