Fares shown on this website (Policies page) are valid for the 2012 school year.
Routes 46, 47 and 48 will no longer operate after the end of 2011, please ask your child's school for alternative suggestions.Heres a list of our most common questions that people ask. Please click on the Question to reveal the Answer, or alternatively, click the 'plus' sign next to the question. If you have a question that is not listed here, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What is a Direct Resourced (DR) Network?
A group of fifteen schools in Tauranga have been operating as a DR Network for around ten years. They receive funding from the Ministry of Education for all eligible students, and are then free to design their own bus routes and create their own network.
Schools in the Tauranga Network Group are:
Greenpark School
Greerton Village School
Maungatapu School
Omokoroa Point School
Omokoroa School
Otumoetai College
Otumoetai Intermediate
St Marys Catholic School
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Intermediate
Tauranga Girls' College
Tauranga School
Tauriko School
Welcome Bay School
Whakamarama School
How do schools benefit from being Direct Resourced?
There are several benefits to schools. The main benefit is that schools are not restricted to only carrying students who are eligible under the Ministry of Education definitions. The Tauranga Network Group strives to provide transport for most students to the school of their choice, including many students who are ineligible for funding. Also because schools are managing the transport network themselves, they are able to use any surplus in funding to provide improved bus services.
How do I know if my child is eligible?
An eligible child is one who lives more than 3.2km from their nearest school if aged under 10, or lives more than 4.8km from their nearest school if aged 10 and over. This distance criterion applies whether or not your child is attending his or her nearest school.
Why do some students have to pay, and others don't?
The Ministry of Education provides funding to transport eligible students to their nearest school. Students who are not eligible, or who are eligible but choose not to attend their nearest school, are not funded or may be only partially funded for their journey to school.
How much do I have to pay?
See the policies page of this website for information on fare-paying categories and fees set for the 2010 school year. These will remain unchanged for the 2011 school year.
How many students are allowed to get on a bus?
Each bus is different. By law they must display a Loading Certificate on the front windscreen of the bus, which details the number of primary and secondary students it can carry. Bus companies can receive a fine for exceeding their loading limit, so although a bus may look overcrowded, it is rare for a bus to be overloaded. If you are concerned about the loading on a particular bus, please note the registration number and use the contact form on this website to let us know.
Who is responsible for my child between my front door and the school gate?
The journey children take to get to school is a shared responsibility between parents, schools, the bus company and the child. The bus company is responsible for providing a safe bus and a qualified bus driver. Schools are responsible for providing bus lists, managing loadings and following up on reports of disruptive behaviour or vandalism. Parents need to make sure that their child is capable of travelling on a school bus and managing transfers between buses without assistance.
How do I find out which bus my child needs to take?
Check out this website for details of all bus routes provided by the Tauranga Network Group. If you are still unsure, contact your school.
How can I request a change to a bus route, a new bus stop, make a complaint or compliment a great driver?
Use the contact form on this website. Please be specific if you are requesting a bus route change or
additional bus stop.
What happens when a student misbehaves on a bus?
If the bad behaviour is serious (is a major distraction to the driver or puts other passengers at risk), the student may be stood down from the bus for a period of time. For less serious behaviours, a student may receive a warning or be asked to sign a behaviour contract. Your school will contact you.