You Pick A Side: Should you thank the bus driver?

Thursday, 16 April 2026

Stuff is launching a new weekly series diving into the small, everyday topics that get people talking.

There’s no shortage of big issues to debate — but what about the little ones that spark surprisingly strong opinions?

Each week, we’ll put up a simple question, make the case for both sides, and let you decide. Vote in the poll, or have your say in the comments.

So … pick a side.

Yes, you should thank the bus driver

New Zealand is one of the few places where thanking the driver is almost second nature. Tourists often look confused as a chorus of “thank you, driver” rings out at each stop. But that’s kind of the point. It’s polite and it costs nothing. Why not keep it?

No, you don’t have to thank the driver

They’re doing their job, just like everyone else. Most of us don’t get a thank you for the basics of our work, so why should drivers be any different? Getting passengers from A to B safely is expected — appreciation is optional.

Have your say in the comments and let us know if you have any topics you want discussed. If you’re using the Stuff app on iOS you’ll need to view Stuff.co.nz on a browser to view and post comments.