Nationwide passenger transport business Go Bus Transport Ltd has taken over Central Otago bus and coach company Central Motorways.
All employees of Central Motorways - about 80 in total - were offered jobs with the operation's new owner, Go Bus managing director Calum Haslop said yesterday.
Central Motorways had a fleet of three buses when it was established in Alexandra in 1979, which grew to a fleet of 80 buses, with satellite depots in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Dunedin and the Maniototo.
Owner Murray Jenkinson was overseas and could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Mr Haslop said the value of the deal would remain confidential as it was commercially sensitive.
''It's a good business with a fantastic reputation and we're very happy to have bought it, to complement our existing operations in the area, at Queenstown,'' he said.
Central Motorways operated school and charter services throughout Central Otago, as well as running ''five-star coaches'' throughout the South Island under the Oceania brand.
Go Bus was looking forward to having more of a presence in Central Otago and diversifying into tourism, Mr Haslop said.
It was business as usual for Central Motorways clients, as they would be dealing with the same staff and the same ''high level of service''.
The livery of the buses and coaches would take a while to change.
