Getting started

How school transport works

Our eight schools have combined to manage our own transport operation. The Network receives funding directly from the Ministry of Education and it is then used to help our students get to school.

01
Find your route
Use the Locations link in the menu to find your road, and the bus that provides a service to your location. Check the route page to see the timetable and the list of approved bus stops.
Find your route
02
Register your tamariki
Register through this website. You'll need your child's name, school, year level, and home address. You'll also need to select the bus stop you plan to use, or ask us to add a new one closer to you. We use this information to manage our network as effectively as we can.
Register now
03
Travel on day one
That's it! If you're using an approved stop there's nothing else to do, your tamariki simply waits at the stop and boards the bus — no pass or app required.
Roles & responsibilities

How the network works

Our Network is governed by a set of rules agreed to by the Network Committee, which is made up of a representative from each school. The Committee has developed rules that determine how assistance is provided and reviews them from time to time to ensure they represent a fair level of assistance.

Parents should remember that the responsibility to get a child to school remains with them. The Network can and does provide help, but there should be no expectation of a door-to-door service. School transport assistance can change in response to student locations, route timetables, vehicle loading and financial restrictions. As a rough guide, families should expect to transport their children up to 2km to get to the nearest bus service.

Network Committee
The Waiuku Transport Network is governed by a committee of a representative from each of the eight schools in the network. The Committee sets the rules for how transport assistance is provided, reviews exceptions, and approves route changes. If your family has concerns about school transport, express them in writing to the Committee or talk directly to your principal.
EasyBus — network manager
EasyBus designs the bus routes, manages the contract with Ritchies, handles registrations, and is your first point of contact for anything to do with school transport. If you have a question about eligibility, a stop, or a service issue, contact EasyBus.
Ritchies — bus operator
Ritchies provides and maintains the buses and employs the drivers. They are responsible for the vehicles being safe, roadworthy, and operated to the schedule. Operational issues during a run — a breakdown, a very late bus — are handled by Ritchies.
Schools
Each school has a bus controller who liaises with EasyBus on matters affecting their students. Schools confirm student enrolments and communicate transport information to their school community.
Parents and whanau
Parents are responsible for getting their tamariki to the bus stop on time and ensuring they travel safely. If your child's circumstances change — new address, new school, change of year level — please notify EasyBus promptly. Parents are responsible for the behaviour of their tamariki on the bus.
Students
Students are expected to behave appropriately at the bus stop and on the bus at all times. The driver's instructions must be followed. Students who do not meet the behaviour standards may have their travel suspended by the Network Committee.
Network rules

How our routes are designed

The Network Committee has established rules that govern how bus routes are designed and how assistance is provided.

Designing routes

When designing a bus route we consider route timing and the nature of the road being travelled on. In some cases extending a route along a side road would mean the first children on the bus would be boarding too early. In other cases a rough rural road adds unnecessary discomfort to existing passengers. In these cases families are encouraged to apply to the Ministry for assistance to get to the school bus route.

Safety

When designing bus routes we always take safety into account. A bus turning point may be moved further away or closer to school, depending on the most sensible road conditions.

Our Network does not allow standees at any time. In the event that an increase in students would result in children standing, our drivers are instructed to deliver their passengers to school before returning to collect any extras. This is for the safety of all of our children.

Ministry of Education rules

Am I eligible?

Eligibility is based on the distance from your home to the closest school your tamariki can enrol at, measured by the shortest practicable road route.

Year 1–6
Primary
Your tamariki are eligible if you live more than 3.2km from the closest school they can enrol at. They must be attending that closest school to qualify.
📍 More than 3.2km from school
Year 7–13
Intermediate & secondary
Your tamariki are eligible if you live more than 4.8km from the closest school they can enrol at. Attending a different school allows you to transfer eligibility.
📍 More than 4.8km from school