For the second consecutive week, school buses serving Millwater students travelling to Orewa College have been at full capacity, forcing students to remain at bus stops and find alternative ways to get to school.

The issue has caused distress among students and parents alike, with many children making urgent calls home for a lift, leading to last-minute disruptions for families juggling work and other commitments.

Why Are Buses Overcrowded?

Several factors are contributing to the ongoing problem.

Increased road congestion has led to delays in public bus services, prompting some students to opt for the school bus instead.

As a result, by the time the school bus reaches later stops, it is already at full capacity.

This morning, for example, the public bus route 985 was seen running with plenty of available seats at 8:45 am, yet school buses were already full.

This highlights a mismatch between transport availability and student demand.

Possible Solutions on the Table

To address the issue, a few solutions should be considered:

• Increase Capacity: Orewa College and Auckland Transport could request and fund additional buses.
• Adjust Timetables: Auckland Transport may modify public bus schedules to better match school start times, ensuring more students can use these services.
• Real-Time Reporting: School bus drivers will notify the depot as soon as they reach capacity, allowing additional buses to be deployed promptly.

What Can Parents Do?

Parents affected by this issue should report concerns directly to Orewa College and Auckland Transport.

The more voices raised, the sooner a solution can be implemented.

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