A Kiwi (and Aussie) Twist
In 2023, an article in the New York Post reported that American expats in Australia were amazed at how often passengers thanked their bus drivers – and Australians were equally surprised that this wasn’t the norm everywhere.
In New Zealand, thanking a driver is common too – but, as with everything, it varies from place to place.
The New Zealand Way
A major international study on gratitude found that Kiwis often personalise their thanks — adding intensity or warmth with phrases like “thanks heaps” or “thanks very much.” We also tend to share why we’re grateful.
While bus etiquette hasn’t been formally studied here, anyone who rides regularly will notice differences: in some towns, almost everyone says thanks. In others, maybe not so much.
What’s it like where you live?
Thanks Driver is a project with a simple purpose: to remind us that buses aren’t just about timetables and routes, but about the people – behind the wheel and in every seat -each with their own story to share. A bus is a unique shared space, and small gestures – whether a nod or a smile between passengers, or the simple words “thanks, driver” – can make all the difference.