| 59 T T Hugh de Lacy Bus company in expansion mode Brougham Buses now has 38 buses providing school and community services, and a rental arm compromising three vans and a truck. Brougham Buses “Early 2017 saw us purchase Sports Connection Buses, adding three more buses to the fleet and picking up associated charter work.” TRANSPORT INDUSTRY It’s been a roller-coaster ride for South Auckland company Brougham Buses since Ashleigh “Beatle” Brougham launched it in 1986 to provide school bus services in Pukekohe, but it has come through a tumultuous 40 years to be in a stronger position than ever. It survived savage competition in the school bus services market, and was nearly wiped out by the Covid lockdowns, but today it’s a vigorous service-provider in expansion mode. Now run by Beatle’s son-in-law, Paul Puna, Brougham Buses has seen boom and nearbust over its 40 years of operation, and now with 38 buses providing school and community services, and a rental arm compromising three vans and a truck, its outlook is rosy. “During the 1990s Beatle diversified into the tourism industry after starting out with school runs, with a small fleet of tour coaches, and at its peak Brougham Buses ran 20 buses and carried out local charters and tour work for Lordham Tours,” Paul says. “I was Auckland manager at Murphy Buses when we bought Brougham Buses’ school bus operation and runs, and in the transition period I ended up with Beatle’s daughter, Aroha. Beatle was left with 2 buses. “I became a director of Brougham Buses in 2009 but I was committed to Murphy Buses until 2016 when I took on the Managing Director’s role at Brougham Buses and the then 2 buses.” By the end of 2016 Paul had hiked the business to eight buses and three daily school runs. “I targeted the Franklin schools that Murphy had started to neglect due to its new commitment to Auckland Transport, and fairly quickly local schools jumped aboard, sparking the renaissance of Brougham Buses,” Paul says. “Early 2017 saw us purchase Sports Connection Buses, adding three more buses to the fleet and picking up associated charter work.” The following year a plan was put in place to start upgrading the growing fleet, and in 2020 Brougham Buses bought Te Waiora Coachlines, securing three daily runs into Saint Kentigern College and another to Baradene Girls School. “Covid caused us and our staff extreme hardship in 2020, but while it was not a pleasant experience, battling through this period has made Brougham Buses even more resilient,” Paul says. Next year the company will take on eight more daily runs for Strathallan College, adding a further eight buses to the fleet. Brougham Buses is more than just a schoolbus operator, taking on charter work with its fleet of 50-seater coaches and 12-seater vans for clients ranging from sports teams and senior citizens groups to entertainment events and church groups. The vans are also available for rental. The company has its own three-bay workshop in Tuakau, with fully qualified diesel mechanics delivering in-house servicing and repairs, along with call-out services. AIRPORT, CRUISE & TRAIN TRANSFERS – STRESS-FREE TRAVEL STARTS HERE MULTISPARES TRUCK&BUSPARTS “In addition to this we have our own paintshop that carries out paint and panel repairs as required, and also does full bus re-painting,” Paul says. Family-owned Brougham Buses has depots in Paerata and Papakura, with satellite bases at Tuakau and Waiau Pa, Ararimu, and is a keen supporter of local sports clubs.
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