Meet Niniva – cruising the hills of the northern suburbs
Niniva has been driving Mana Newlands buses for more than a decade and knows the Metlink routes in the area like the back of his hand.
After moving from Samoa when he was just 21, he spent 15 years in Auckland before relocating to Porirua in 1993. When asked why he left Samoa, Ninivia says with a grin, “My mother threw me over here”. His younger siblings followed soon after.
When he’s not driving a bus, it’s no surprise he’s often called on for babysitting duties with six children, 20 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He must have learnt a fair amount of patience from his large whānau, and that carries over to his work where Niniva takes a calm and kind approach.
“I would like other road users to respect the bus. You know some people try to beat the bus, but it helps a lot when cars let us back into traffic,” says Niniva.
It’s these small gestures that can improve a driver’s day.
I like saying hello to people when they get on the bus, but I let them see how they feel, if they want to say hello back they will.
Annual trips back to Samoa for church conferences are a highlight for Niniva, especially the opportunity to enjoy raw fish with coconut cream he remembers as a young boy.
Ngā mihi nui Niniva for all your mahi!