Rural families in Manawatū are bearing new transport costs after the Ministry of Education reviewed bus routes to ensure compliance with policies such as children attending their nearest school.
The Ministry assessed about 250 of 1400 routes nationally, with changes taking effect this year in Manawatū. Students from Shannon and Tangimoana were deemed ineligible for Ministry-funded buses to Palmerston North because closer schools exist.
A community-led alternative service from Tangimoana charging $600 per term is ending due to falling numbers. Ridership has declined from over 50 students to approximately 25. Dairy farmer Nikita Walker said families were using savings or obtaining loans to cover costs, with some considering homeschooling. "It's just disheartening, really," Walker said. "It's been working for 100 years-plus for all our rural communities and our dairy farming families."
Palmerston North Boys' High School arranged a $46-per-week service for just over 20 Shannon students. Rector David Bovey said this year's changes impacted a couple of hundred students, with many struggling to reach class. "I just think it's been a disaster, really," Bovey said. "I'd like to see them put the buses back on."
Parent Becs Barr said she was transporting her son to school earlier this year, pushing her weekly petrol costs above $200 and reaching $300 at peak fuel prices, compared with normal levels of about $120.
The Ministry has suspended area-wide route reviews while conducting a transport policy review expected to finish in April 2027, but will not reverse implemented changes. Ministry general manager Jennifer Fraser said the Ministry can only fund transport for eligible students under its policies. Fraser said caregivers of ineligible students have alternatives including user-pays services, noting that parent- or school-funded services are widely used across the country.