What is Waru?
“Waru” is the fire that burned the small scrubland in order to help regenerate the land. When the traditional owners returned to the area after rain the land was full of food, not only for themselves but for all the animals that rely on the area as well.
Who we are
Waru is a majority Western Australian Aboriginal and female-owned business providing specialist vehicle hire and fleet management solutions to the mining, defence, government, and private sectors.
Our name reflects renewal, stewardship, and a commitment to supporting land, people, and future opportunity. These values guide how we build trusted partnerships, support regional communities, and deliver culturally grounded, commercially effective services.
With operations across key resource and logistics hubs including Karratha, Port Hedland, and Newman, Waru delivers fit-for-purpose fleet solutions for remote and high-compliance environments. Our approach combines cultural integrity, operational reliability, and responsive local support to meet project, shutdown, and long-term contract requirements.
Sectors We Serve
Mission & Vision
Mission
Waru Vehicle Hire exists to drive opportunity. As a proud Pilbara local business, we deliver reliable and safe vehicle solutions while creating meaningful employment, skills development, and economic growth for local communities. We are committed to empowering our people and leaving a lasting, positive impact in the regions we serve.”
Vision
To lead the way as a fiercely community-driven, Local vehicle hire company – where every journey we enable fuels local opportunity, strengthens our communities, and inspires generations to come.
Our Values
We don’t just work in communities we invest in them. From local sponsorships to real employment pathways, every project we take on puts opportunity back into the hands of the people who live here.
What we do
Waru provides a range of commercial vehicle hire solutions for business operating in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We have a large, comprehensive fleet of hire vehicles, including:
Leadership Profile
Shakira Grasso is a Pilbara Traditional Owner with strong cultural authority, regional insight, and a deep personal commitment to ensuring industry operates in a way that respects Country, community, and long-term regional sustainability. Her heritage connections stem from the Nyiyaparli and Palyku peoples, with extended lineage to Kariyarra and Ngarluma through her great-grandmother’s family, providing her with a broad cultural and relational network across the Pilbara.
Through her leadership role within Waru, Shakira provides strategic guidance on cultural engagement, community alignment, and responsible regional participation. She brings a practical understanding of how resource sector projects intersect with Aboriginal communities and advocates for approaches that deliver genuine opportunities for local people through employment, skills development, and economic participation.
Shakira’s leadership approach is grounded in integrity, accountability, and relationship-building. She works to ensure Waru operates not only as a service provider, but as a partner that contributes positively to the social and economic strength of the Pilbara. Her involvement helps ensure Waru’s operations are culturally informed, community-conscious, and aligned with both Traditional Owner expectations and industry requirements.
By combining cultural knowledge with a forward-looking view of Aboriginal business participation, Shakira plays a key role in shaping Waru’s long-term vision is supporting sustainable growth, strong partnerships, and meaningful outcomes for the communities connected to Country.
Our Vehicles
All our vehicles are all new or late model, clean and regularly serviced at our workshops in Karratha, Port Hedland and Newman.
We specialise in mine-spec vehicles on long term hire in the Pilbara region.
Waru provides a complete hire service to ensure delivery is guaranteed by acknowledging accountability and aligning delivery targets with a strong focus on quality, safety, and integrity, whilst being able to give back to our Pilbara Community.
