09/03/2026
"We Are Kiwi"
Kiwi Coaches – it’s who we are, it’s what we are.
From the Himalayas to the Highways of New Zealand - Meet Raj
At Kiwi Coaches, great transport begins with great people.
Behind every safe school run and every charter trip is a driver who brings experience, professionalism, and pride to the job.
Today we’re proud to introduce Raj, one of the fantastic drivers who joined Kiwi Coaches late last year.
Raj’s story begins a long way from Auckland — in India, where he first discovered his love of driving.
Raj began driving professionally in 1992, building a career across India’s vast and varied road networks. Over the years he even ran his own transport business, operating long-distance trips across the country.
Those journeys sometimes took him into the foothills of the Himalayas, navigating winding mountain roads that demand skill, patience, and confidence behind the wheel.
After decades of experience on the road, Raj moved to New Zealand eight years ago with his family, seeking new opportunities and a new chapter in life.
During his time in New Zealand, Raj completed a Master’s degree in Operations, expanding his knowledge beyond the driver’s seat while continuing to pursue his passion for transport.
Eventually he returned to what he enjoys most — driving.
Raj began operating passenger services in Auckland, where he gained experience driving busy city routes. Unfortunately, during that time he experienced an assault by a passenger on one of his runs.
Despite the experience, Raj remains philosophical about the incident.
He believes the stress and frustration many people felt during and after Covid contributed to rising tensions in public life. But he is quick to emphasise that he does not hold the actions of one individual against New Zealand or the community.
“One person’s actions don’t define a whole country. Most people are good people. We should all just live and let live.”
After that experience, Raj joined Kiwi Coaches, where he quickly became a valued member of the team.
These days you’ll often find Raj driving one of our dedicated school bus routes, where he takes great pride in safely transporting students to and from school each day.
For Raj, school transport is one of the most meaningful parts of the job.
Parents trust Kiwi Coaches with their children every day, and Raj understands that responsibility deeply.
Alongside his school services, Raj also drives a wide range of work across the Kiwi Coaches network, including day charters and longer-distance trips around New Zealand.
Having driven extensively across the country, Raj says one place in particular stands out.
Lake Tekapo.
With its bright turquoise waters and the Southern Alps rising nearby, the landscape reminds him just a little of the mountain scenery from back home.
“When you see the mountains near Tekapo it reminds me of the Himalayas. It’s a beautiful country.”
Raj also appreciates the difference between driving in India and New Zealand.
In India, traffic can be unpredictable and fast-moving, and road rules are sometimes treated more as suggestions than strict guidelines. That environment taught Raj to stay alert and ready for anything.
By comparison, he finds New Zealand roads very good to drive on, and the structure of the road network makes long-distance driving enjoyable.
When it comes to vehicles, Raj has his favourites.
He prefers driving manual transmissions over automatic, and he particularly enjoys operating MAN and Volvo buses, which he says offer excellent control and reliability on long journeys.
But for Raj, the most important part of working at Kiwi Coaches isn’t the vehicles — it’s the people.
He enjoys the family atmosphere of the company, where drivers regularly come into the depot, catch up with the team, and share stories from the road.
“It’s a true Kiwi company. You come into the depot, talk with the owner, the office team, the other drivers. Everyone is friendly.”
Outside of work, Raj enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, who moved to New Zealand with him and now call it home.
After eight years in the country, Raj says he feels fully part of the community.
In his own words:
“I’m Kiwi now.”
And at Kiwi Coaches, we’re proud to have him as part of the team.
Raj is Kiwi.
We are Kiwi.
🚍 Drop a 👍 for Raj in the comments and help us welcome him properly to the Kiwi family.
And if you enjoy meeting the people behind the wheel, follow our page — we’ll be introducing more of the team soon.
