Membership.
Advocating for the bus and coach industry!
Welcome to the authoritative voice of New Zealand’s bus and coach industry since 1931, the BCA!
Why the BCA?
With the rapid advancements in technology, changes in regulation, and evolving consumer demands, there is an increasing need for a strong association that undertakes advocacy on behalf of members as well as providing advice, services, and networking opportunities. The BCA fulfills this role with unwavering commitment.
One of the key reasons why the BCA is essential to the industry is its role in advocacy and representation. The BCA serves as the collective voice of the industry, representing the concerns and interests of its members at various levels of government and with regulatory bodies. This ensures that the industry's perspective is considered in the formulation of legislation, regulations and policy, ultimately influencing decisions that impact the sector as a whole.
The BCA facilitates networking and collaboration among members and key stakeholders, fostering a sense of community and enabling professionals to share insights, experiences, and best practices. Through conferences, seminars, and other events, members can establish connections, build partnerships, and learn from the experiences of others. This not only propels individual growth but also contributes to the collective advancement of the industry.
We are a sector forecast to grow strongly over the next decade. The BCA will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting and advancing road passenger transport. BCA’s advocacy efforts, provision of industry knowledge, facilitation of networking opportunities, and provision of services to members contributes to the growth and sustainability of the sector. As we all continue to navigate increasing levels of complexity, the BCA will provide indispensable support for those involved in the provision of road passenger transport.
The history.
The Bus and Coach Association (NZ) Inc. was first established in 1931.
The name of the Association reflects our origin.
The “Bus” comes from the NZ Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association (est. 1931) who ran urban omnibus services.
The “Coach” is an abbreviation for “service coach”, the vehicle descended from the horse-drawn coach, and the service car, a long motor car.
New Zealand’s first bus ‘drivers’ had a number of new skills to learn as well in the transition from working with animals to working with automotive equipment. Many a first-time driver would yell ‘whoa!’ when putting on the vehicle's brakes! They often needed to be not only skilled drivers, but also expert mechanics.
Punctures and puncture repairs were standard on most trips and when drivers ran out of inner tubes, they were known to stuff the tyre casing with grass or flax to get home, brakes were primitive, lighting was minimal or non-existent and inventions like windscreen wipers were some way off in the future.
Membership Types.
No more than ten exclusive Platinum Associate memberships are available for those Associate Members wanting to play a bigger role in supporting the Association. Platinum Member support is recognised at key events like the annual conference.