Whether it’s stretching on a bench after an early morning jog or taking cover from the rain while waiting for the next bus, bus shelters are part of everyday life. It’s the job of our Operations team to ensure these public spaces are well maintained and continually improved to serve our communities – much of it going unnoticed and unseen.
We caught up with Karl, our Warehouse Coordinator, to hear how he helps make 1,600+ bus shelters Unmissable by morning.
Q. Tell us a bit about your role at oOh!media – how long have you been with the team?
A. My current role is Warehouse Coordinator, it mainly revolves around organising our posting (Street Furniture posters) unit at our depot. This July will mark 16 years in the Operations team.
Q. What does a typical day look like for you out on the network?
A. I start by picking up posters from our printing partner, SCG. Then I count them in and prepare for the upcoming main post. I also take inventory of old stock and help out with posting in the network when needed.
Other parts of my role include maintaining the DI water filtration system our team uses to clean the assets, unloading and loading deliveries, and general tidying and moving stock around the depot.
Q. What are some of the biggest challenges in maintaining the network, and how do you overcome them?
A. That’s a great question. Honestly, keeping up with change has been one of the biggest challenges. I started my career at oOh! (formerly Adshel) as a maintenance technician back in 2009, and almost every aspect of the role has changed – from the vehicles we use to the increased health and safety requirements just to be working in the road corridor.
But having the right people leading the way has made a huge difference. We’ve evolved for the better.
Q. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Any standout moments or stories from working in the community?
A. For me, the most rewarding part is working with a great bunch of people. We work hard, we all get along, and we can have a good laugh together.
Like many in the Ops team, I’ve had a memorable moment with someone in the community. A couple of years ago, I was installing posters in Pukekohe when a gentleman came and sat in the bus stop, visibly upset. I asked if he was okay – he said no and asked if he could talk to me just to clear his head.
I finished up my posting and sat with him for a good 15–20 minutes, just listening and giving advice where I could. Afterwards, he looked like a different person, like a weight had been lifted. He thanked me for giving him the time of day and listening. I felt better in myself knowing I could help, even if it was just a little bit.
