Bus Information
Bus Travel
School buses are available to those eligible to use the service.
To use this service, students must be registered with the office and carry a bus tag to be admitted to the bus.
The first tag is free. If a student misplaces this tag, they will be given one week to find it or will be charged $1 for a replacement. Students will not be admitted to the bus without a tag.
Special exemptions may be granted by the Principal.
On occasion, students may need to travel on a different route for sport or care requirements. The office must be advised each time this occurs. In dual accommodation situations, both bus routes can be loaded onto a bus tag.
Students wishing to travel regularly on a different bus (for reasons other than sport or returning home) must have permission from the Principal.
For more information about bus routes, please visit: Franklin Bus Routes
Bus Fee Information
Due to rising costs and increased demand, Ministry guidelines must be strictly followed by the Franklin South Bus Network.
Students who bypass their closest school to attend Onewhero Area School are not eligible for bus funding and must contribute to travel costs.
The cost is $150 per child per term, payable to the Onewhero Area School office. This is passed directly to the Franklin South Bus Network.
Please refer to the Out of Zone Information for further details.
Bus Behaviour Expectations
Student Responsibilities
- Sit down and remain seated for the whole journey.
- Do not eat or drink on the bus.
- If standing (Years 9–13 only), stand quietly, hold onto the seat, and do not move around.
- Respect others and their property at all times. No pushing, shouting, or behaviour that distracts the driver.
- Speak quietly to avoid distracting the driver.
- Stay seated until the bus has stopped.
- Treat Murphy’s buses respectfully — no standing on seats or vandalism.
- Follow all instructions from the driver and bus monitors.
- Refrain from vaping, smoking, or engaging in illegal activities.
- Avoid device use on the bus (Years 1–8).
- Demonstrate our school values and motto at all times.
- Line up by year level when boarding the bus after school.
- Carry an electronic bus tag on your bag or person.
If I do not follow these expectations:
- The incident will be investigated under the school’s behaviour management policy and parents will be notified.
- Continued issues may lead to a meeting with parents and the possible loss of the privilege to travel on the bus.
- In extreme cases, bus privileges will be withdrawn immediately.
Parent / Caregiver Responsibilities
- Ensure all contact details (especially mobile numbers) are up to date.
- Access the school app or Facebook page for timely updates about buses.
- Have students ready at the bus stop 10 minutes before pickup; parents are responsible for their children until the bus arrives.
- Parents are responsible for students once they have exited the bus at drop-off.
Ritchies Buses Responsibilities
- Provide safe and reliable transport to and from school.
- Operate on time where possible (noting weather, traffic, and roadworks can affect timing).
- Notify the school promptly of any service disruptions (e.g., breakdowns, accidents).
- Communicate with the school about any student behaviour issues.
Onewhero Area School Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate afternoon bus boarding records.
- Notify families as soon as possible of any changes to the bus service.
- Arrange annual Police Education Officer visits to promote bus safety.
- Follow up on any incidents in line with the school’s behaviour management policy.