Auckland’s Christmas commuting season has taken a festive turn with the launch of Auckland Transport’s Christmas Joy Rides campaign. Seven gift-wrapped buses are now circulating across the city, bringing a burst of colour to everyday journeys and adding a light-hearted moment for passengers during the busy lead-up to Christmas.
Six of the buses are operated by Kinetic, which has been working closely with Auckland Transport to support the campaign’s citywide reach. The initiative has also placed one Kinetic driver at the centre of the festivities.
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Jona, based at the New Lynn depot, was selected as the public face of the campaign after Auckland Transport held a search for standout drivers across all operators.
His energetic approach to carpool karaoke, shared through his TikTok account @thatbusguynz, quickly gained widespread attention. The account has accumulated more than 145,000 likes in just three weeks, with viewers responding to the sense of joy and optimism at the heart of his videos. The campaign builds on that momentum, introducing thousands of passengers to a more festive take on public transport.
The visibility of the wrapped buses has also helped carry the campaign beyond everyday commutes. Jona has participated in live radio broadcasts, made his television debut on TV1’s Seven Sharp and taken part in Auckland’s major Christmas parade, which draws large crowds to the central city each year.
The profile of the campaign continues to grow, with Jona invited to light the Christmas tree at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park on December 13.
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