Video / NZ HeraldA rural North Otago school has been left scrambling after one of its school bus runs was suddenly stopped this week, a move understood to be related to the upcoming vaccination mandate deadline. "These kids are entitled to a bus service and many of them live in some quite out-of-the-way places, so it has been problematic.'' A notice sent to parents whose children were affected by the Papakaio School bus cancellation said there were 25 schools affected by this issue nationwide. Ministry of Education school transport group manager James Meffan said he was aware of a school transport service in Oamaru that had been cancelled due to driver unavailability. As of next year, Ritchies will no longer provide the school bus service to Papakaio School, as Pearsons Coachlines Oamaru was awarded the Ministry of Education contract for most Waitaki schools from term 1 next year.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 12, 2021 07:05 UTC