Back in Feb/Mar 2012, the new NBUS service was introduced to Nelson.
The NBus operation is operated by SBL Group on behalf of Nelson City Council.
This new initiative saw a fleet of brand new 13.5-metre-long 50-seater low floor wheelchair friendly buses introduced to Nelsonians, and travelers alike, and quickly gained good support.
New services were introduced and along with increased frequency during busy times, the hours of operation also were extended.
Here’s a brief video on the new service;
The video also talks about the new “hail & ride” service ( offered on selected local neighbourhood routes ) serviced by smaller buses, and also about the much anticipated user operated “bike carriers” that are mounted on the front of the new units.
Certainly looks like the act of moving from one location to another could be just a tad easier this way though, certainly when compared with what goes for “the norm” in a typical terrestrial based abode relocation?
But alas, like all good things….there is another tale to tell about these photos. It seems this “floating home” was part of an exhibition, albeit a river based one stretching many many kms.
This photographer bloke, Christophe Dedieu, has previously taken photos of some interesting things. And me, being a photography passionate person, his efforts didn’t escape me.
Being at the bottom of the world seems to have its benefits.
Launch customer for the 787-9, our own “best airline in the world”, has shown Boeing an extra big vote of confidence this past week, confirming an order with the Seattle airframer for a further two of the composite carbon fibre beauties. (about here I am wondering what colour they’ll be painted)
Hot on the heels of the World First “Skybed”, Air New Zealand this morning, NZ time, April 1st, launched yet another world first, in announcing after exhaustive studies, the public were to be offered “StraightUp” airfares.
...cheap fares - but you better be real quick...
Seems that it was just “tooooo popular” because now you can’t book them,
apparently the public response……”it was incredible” according to Captain (new recruit still awaiting NZ residency) Flash Gordon.
Upper graphic depicts normal fare – as compared to “deluxe” pictured here just above…
According to a reporter on the scene at the very casual and un-announced press conference this morning, a statement was voiced very quickly by an english based scribe, who was heard to say….
thats just typical of you Kiwis’s…always attempting to “one-up” those of us from the “home country.”
…. then, his mobile phone rang …after about 10 seconds he was heard loudly to voice “Richard Branson is really going to do that!!”
It seems Virgin Airlines have also tried to take Air New Zealands thunder on this auspicious day, with the launch of Virgin Volcanic.
This I recall from my IT days chatting with project folk from the major companies, even when it was something that wasn’t the most popular thing, NZ was, they recanted, just a perfect “test case” situation. Another likened it in these words…..as a “control” experience for his company.
Why?
Well, from what I was told…it went like this……….
1] english speaking country
2] accustomed to most / easily adjustable, even taking local customs into account, to Australia / Canada / USA / UK, and hence scalable …..
3] the ability to “test market” anything for a pittance of what it would cost to do “the same” in one of the countries named in no. 2 above
4] plenty of other “not at first glance” obvious reasons…..
