School Bus

2026 BUS ROUTES 

As a result of the MOE review, PNINS will be served by the following school bus routes from the start of Term 1, 2026: 

  • D080217 – Aokautere / Turitea to Palmerston North Intermediate – Shared with Awatapu College (Map Link)

  • D080228 – Tokomaru to Palmerston North Intermediate - Shared with Palmerston North Girls' High School (Map Link)

  • D080236 – Ashhurst to Palmerston North Intermediate School (temporary transitional bus service) - Shared with Palmerston North Girls’ High School (Map Link am - Map link pm) 

  • Conveyance allowances There may be some eligible students who, as a result of the MOE review, may become eligible for a conveyance allowance. A conveyance allowance is a contribution to help with the cost of getting eligible students to school or the nearest bus route. To receive a conveyance allowance, students must meet the three criteria for being eligible for school transport assistance and have limited access to a school bus. This means either: 

  • There is no school bus or public transport available, or 

  • There is a school bus or public transport available, but they live more than 2.4km from the nearest bus route.

If you believe you meet the criteria, then please apply online via the Ministry’s website.

If your child is ineligible for a Ministry school bus, you may like to explore carpooling or using the public transport to transport your child to school next year. For information on public transport routes and timetables, please visit https://www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport.

Review of Palmerston North School bus services FAQ’s Link

If the student travels the full distance from home to school by private vehicle, or travels more than 2.4km to the school bus stop, he/she may be eligible for a conveyance allowance.

To determine whether your child is eligible for the transport conveyance allowance please apply online:

https://takueducationnz.my.site.com/SESTA/s/conveyance-allowance

As you may be aware, the Ministry of Education is currently reviewing school bus routes for schools in Palmerston North.  As part of this review, the Ministry is investigating school bus route changes based on the locations and numbers of eligible students attending our school.

 

While we were expecting to hear an outcome from the Ministry before the end of the 2024 school year, we have been advised that a decision has been delayed until 2025 for further work to take place. The Ministry has advised us that this means all current school bus route arrangements will remain in place for the beginning of 2025.

 

If you have any questions regarding eligibility for a Ministry-funded school bus, please contact Vicki James, our school’s Bus Controller, via vjames@pnins.school.nz