Auckland Transport probe after school bus driver drops children in ‘unfamiliar’ area
Auckland Transport is investigating an incident where a school bus driver dropped students off in an unfamiliar area after a dispute. Parents and school officials have expressed significant safety concerns regarding the driver's conduct.
Why it matters
This incident highlights critical gaps in student transportation safety protocols and the accountability of private bus operators.
An after-school bus journey in South Auckland took a potentially “frightening” turn this week, with youngsters told to shut up before being dropped off in an unfamiliar area and made to find their own way home.
The incident, on the first day of Term 4, has prompted an internal investigation, an apology from Auckland Transport (AT) and raised safety concerns from parents and the school.
According to multiple parents, a “bus full” of students from Greenmeadows Intermediate School in Manurewa were taken on a rogue route and dropped off in an area “not familiar” to them on Monday.
Principal Cathy Chalmers said the school was aware of the incident and “raised our concern” with the bus company and AT.
AT apologised for the “upsetting” incident and said the bus operator, Ritchies, is investigating.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in