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Ritchies Transport

Nationwide bus, school, and tour operator

Depot Supervisor

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/15/2026
No salary listed
Mid
Auckland, New Zealand
In Person
Vehicle Operation & Delivery

About the job

Requirements
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, motivate, and support teams.
  • Confidence managing daily operations, competing priorities, and real-time challenges.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to build positive working relationships.
  • Strong planning, organisational, and problem-solving abilities.
  • High attention to detail and commitment to compliance and operational standards.
  • Confidence using technology and operational systems.
  • Ability to adapt and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
  • Applicants must currently reside in New Zealand and have the legal right to work in New Zealand at the time of application.
Responsibilities
  • Lead, support, and develop a team of up to 45 drivers and cleaners.
  • Oversee day-to-day depot operations, including dispatch, rostering, and service delivery.
  • Manage operational challenges and make real-time decisions to maintain service performance.
  • Champion a strong health and safety culture, ensuring compliance and safe work practices.
  • Support incident management, investigations, and reporting with a calm and people-focused approach.
  • Work closely with HR, Training, Recruitment, and Workshop teams regarding staffing, onboarding, and fleet requirements.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with employees, customers, unions, and stakeholders.
  • Monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, service delivery, and customer experience.
  • Help create a positive team culture where people feel supported and empowered to succeed.

About the company

Ritchies Transport is a large New Zealand transport operator that runs public transit services, nationwide school bus operations, and tourism charters. It grew from a single Temuka bus in 1935 by acquiring many local bus lines, building a nationwide fleet of over 1,600 vehicles and sustaining a family-owned business for decades. Today, it operates primarily through contracts with cities for public transport, school run networks, and charter work, leveraging its extensive, multi-service fleet. The company differentiates itself by its long history, scale achieved through a series of regional acquisitions, and, since 2021, ownership by KKR with the Ritchie family retaining a stake to preserve continuity and focus on long-term infrastructure and greener transport solutions. The goal is to support New Zealand’s public transport network while accelerating the transition to greener transportation options.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Christchurch, New Zealand

Founded

1935

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Ritchies opened Māngere depots in 2025, supporting 102 electric buses and 250 staff.
  • Auckland Transport said 175 new electric buses join west and south Auckland routes by 2026.
  • Ritchies appointed Scott Thorne CEO on 17 August 2026, restoring operational leadership.

What critics are saying

  • KKR's unresolved sale process creates strategic drift after Michele Kernahan's August 2026 exit.
  • Auckland driver assaults and Whangārei rock-throwing incidents expose daily safety and reputational damage.
  • Failing Auckland's electrification rollout would wreck AT trust and end future contract wins.

What makes Ritchies Transport unique

  • Ritchies runs New Zealand's largest bus network, spanning urban, school, charter, and tourism.
  • Auckland Transport's 2025 nine-year, $1.068 billion contract makes Ritchies a dominant urban operator.
  • Zenobē depots and GIRO HASTUS give Ritchies integrated electrification and scheduling capability.

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Benefits

Training Programs

Professional Development Budget

Company News

NZ Herald
Sep 28th, 2024
Greenline Motors sold for $19.5M

Allen and Sharon Fretwell, owners of Greenline Motors, sold their bus company to Ritchies for $19.5 million. The Fretwells took over the business in 1991, expanding it to a fleet of 52 buses. Allen, with a background in transport, converted older buses to diesel and documented every transaction. At 73 and facing health issues, Allen decided to sell when approached by KKR on behalf of Ritchies.