Media Release

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Whangaparaoa School - Leading the Way

If you’re out and about around Whangaparaoa School - it’s quite likely you’ll hear the pitter patter of tiny feet on your travels.

That’s because Whangaparaoa Primary School has the honour of having more walking school buses than any other school in New Zealand. Eight walking school bus routes are now operating at the school with 95 school children “on board.”

Like a normal bus the walking school buses operate along set route and children who join the bus are even issued with tickets.

The buses have names like the Jolly Long Liner, the Plaza Sharks and the Seahorses. Parent volunteers act as "Bus Drivers" and "Conductors."

Rodney Deputy Mayor John Kirkikiri recently attended a special assembly and morning tea at the school to celebrate the contribution made by the children and parent volunteers to make the walking school bus programme a success.

Councillor Kirikiri presented parent volunteers who had been part of the school bus programme for a year or more with certificates and even showed the pupils an alternative way to walk to school by demonstrating his moonwalk.
23 walking school buses are now operating across Rodney District. The buses are supported by Rodney District Council and ARTA (the Auckland Regional Transport Authority).

“Walking school buses are a great way to reduce traffic congestion and help children stay fit and healthy,” says Rodney Road Safety Coordinator Jacqui Dawson. Mrs Dawson says the Council is keen to hear from schools or parents who are interested in starting up their own walking school bus.

To find out more about walking school buses visit www.rodney.govt.nz or www.travelwise.maxx.co.nz.

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