NZ Bus not preferred tender for New South Auckland Bus Network

 

Just in from the NZX:

NZ Bus South Auckland Public Transport Tender Outcome

8:42am, 29 Jan 2016 | GENERAL

NZ Bus advises that it has been informed by Auckland Transport that it has not been selected as a preferred tenderer for any of its South Auckland public transport services which were tendered for in late 2015. The NZ Bus services currently comprise 153 vehicles out of the total NZ Bus fleet of 1,070 buses.

NZ Bus Chief Executive Zane Fulljames said “Not being selected as a preferred tenderer in one of our incumbent locations is a disappointing outcome, particularly for our staff who work hard every day to deliver a high quality service and are part of the South Auckland community. However, as an incumbent we understand clearly the costs of operating in the South Auckland market and submitted a strong, high quality tender to reflect this.”

The tender outcome will have implications for NZ Bus staff operating in South Auckland. There is a 9 month transition period to the implementation of the new South Auckland contracts, and NZ Bus will be taking this time to work through options for minimising the impact on staff.

Mr Fulljames said it is important to keep this outcome in perspective. “While a number of contracts are being tendered across Auckland, other contracts are being renewed with incumbent bus operators through a direct negotiation process. NZ Bus has rights to negotiate a number of these contracts, representing in scale around 50 percent of its existing business in Auckland.

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Source: https://nzx.com/companies/IFT/announcements/276965

 

Make of that as you will but I think this Tweet might sum things up a bit:

 

We are waiting for Auckland Transport to announce the new preferred Tender for who go the South Auckland bus routes.

 

UPDATE: Go Bus and Ritchies to take over

More from Stuff

Around 200 people could lose their jobs as NZ Bus loses its tender to service South Auckland’s public transport.

NZ Bus is the current operator of buses in South Auckland, with 153 of its fleet in the area.

First Union represents many of NZ Bus’ employees and general secretary Robert Reid said there could be around 200 people affected.

This number also included staff from Howick and Eastern Buses, which has also lost some of its services in the South Auckland area.

Reid said notices have also been put in bus depots informing workers that Go Bus and Ritchies will be taking over the South Auckland services.

However, Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said the South Auckland tender has not yet been awarded and it was in talks with a number of preferred tenderers.

An announcement on the winning tender will be made in a few weeks, he said.

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Full article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/76377813/Big-job-losses-on-the-cards-after-failed-NZ-Bus-South-Auckland-tender