Milk tankers reborn as buses

An engineer checks the stability of a Harrison Panelbeating and Towing converted bus.

For those who have wondered what happens to surplus milk tankers and fertiliser spreaders in Northland - many are broken down to scrap but the odd lucky one ends up at Harrison Panelbeating and Towing.

And if Harrison Panelbeating and Towing is their destination they are converted into buses for shuttling tourists up and down Ninety Mile Beach as part of Harrison Cape Runner Tours.

Harrison Panelbeating and Towing has been operating for about 40 years, and has been bussing people along Ninety Mile Beach for about 22 of those years, says co-owner Cheryl Harrison, who runs the business with husband Murray.

A Harrison Cape Runner Tours bus takes a break on Ninety Mile Beach.

Converting trucks and tankers into buses has several advantages for the business.

"We've been involved with the community for a long time and that directs what we do - we do whatever it takes to keep our people employed.

"The staff are locals - we know them and they are good workers with skills that we want to hang on to."

It also allows Harrisons to develop vehicles specifically suited for a tourist operation up and down Ninety Mile Beach, including super wide tyres as well as stability features.

"The buses are checked by an engineer to make sure they can handle the conditions - passenger safety is a major factor for us," Ms Harrison said.

Harrison Cape Runner Tours depart from Kaitaia for Cape Reinga at 9am daily and return at 5pm.

As well as tourism, the firm also run a "hospital bus", doing daily trips from Kaitaia to Whangarei, apart from weekends.

The company, which contracts out its services to other industries around Kaitaia, employs 18, including sons Craig and Tristan.