About Keteriki, Bay of Islands Vintage Railway

Keteriki Limited, the operator of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, is not your average organisation. Combining the stewardship of a historical landmark with the needs of a modern tourism experience, Keteriki operates the Far North’s vintage railway that travels through the main street of the Kawakawa township, the Railway Café, and the continued restoration of the government-supported restoration project of the Kawakawa to Opua Rail Corridor and the Minerva steam boat.

What began as a largely volunteer-led initiative has evolved into a semi-commercial operation requiring modern processes and scalable HR solutions. But as the team grew, so too did the administrative burden – and it quickly became clear that their existing tools weren’t keeping pace.

As Keteriki’s Office Manager, Angela Tanner is responsible for key operational areas of the business. Having evolved from an administrator, she now manages board governance, financial administration, supplier relationships, and along with the General Manager, handles the daily complexities of HR administration.

A heritage operation with a modern HR challenge

Keteriki initially used another popular payroll system, which they eventually outgrew.

“We needed something that could handle more complexity… employee deductions, tax reporting, and robust compliance.”

Adding to the challenge? They had no dedicated HR resource. That meant juggling employment compliance, record-keeping, leave, and timesheet approvals across a growing team, all without the luxury of a full-time HR professional.

Keteriki’s decision to adopt Employment Hero was driven by a clear need: a more capable payroll system with built-in HR support for a growing team. After reviewing other platforms, they chose Employment Hero because it brought everything – even an HR advisory service — into one system. 

Running payroll and leave management like clockwork

One of the biggest wins for Keteriki has been the adaptability of Employment Hero’s payroll software. With different pay schedules across a diverse team, it’s been a game-changer.

“It’s used every week without fail. We process weekly wages and check timesheets and leave nearly every day. Payroll’s no longer a worry – it just works.”

Keteriki also relies heavily on Employment Hero’s leave management and digital timesheet tools, core features that support both day-to-day administration and long-term planning.

“I use the leave calendar and timesheet tracking constantly,” Angela shared. “It gives me visibility at a glance… and it’s accurate, which is essential before every payroll run.”

Employment Hero’s reporting tools have significantly simplified board preparations. With easy access to real-time data and detailed employee records, Angela can now generate tailored reports ahead of monthly governance meetings in just a few clicks, something that once took hours. Employment Hero’s visual report formats, along with built-in templates and filters, make it effortless to find the exact information needed on demand.

Full steam ahead with trust and confidence

Angela highlights that Employment Hero brings even greater value through the accuracy, reliability, and peace of mind it offers. Employment Hero ensures everything runs smoothly and compliantly, which means fewer manual checks and less room for human error.

 It automatically handles Inland Revenue reporting and removes the need to double- or triple-check everything manually, so I can feel confident that it’s handling all our team’s needs.”

Employment Hero has not only enhanced payroll accuracy and compliance, but it’s filled the gap of an in-house HR function. 

“It saved us the cost of hiring a full-time HR or payroll person. That’s huge for a business like ours.”

The result? An empowered team and system that supports Keteriki in focusing on what truly matters to them: restoring New Zealand’s heritage and delivering a standout tourism experience.

Preparing for the long haul

Keteriki is still in the process of unlocking the full potential of Employment Hero, with exciting plans ahead. Angela says the next cab off the rank is to digitise and centralise HR policies, so that employees can access them easily. This move will help eliminate paper-based processes and ensure everyone has consistent access to important workplace guidelines. 

For Keteriki, Employment Hero represents a bridge between the past and the future. As a company dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s transport history, they now have a modern platform underpinning their HR operations, one that brings structure, compliance confidence, and a sense of calm in the face of growing complexity.

Want to experience Employment Hero for yourself?

Employment Hero is your all-in-one Employment Operating System for HR, payroll, and recruitment built to simplify compliance, automate admin, and empower your people. From onboarding to offboarding, we streamline every step of the employee lifecycle so you can spend less time on processes and more time scaling your business.

Want to see how companies like Keteriki are transforming their HR operations and driving real business impact for yourself? Book a demo with our business specialists today.