12. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does the Ministry of Education intend to cut free bus services to the rural Maramarua School; if so, why?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) Link to this
No, we do not. A free school bus service will continue to be available for eligible families next year. The Ministry of Education recently reviewed school bus services to the school, and found that some students using the bus were not eligible for a free service. The parents of those children can, of course, elect to pay for their children to continue using the school bus next year, or make alternative arrangements, such as car pooling, to get their children to school—just as parents do all over New Zealand.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Why would the Minister and his ministry even consider cutting bus services to a school on the edge of New Zealand’s most dangerous highway—known as the “highway to hell”—where there are no footpaths, no grass verges, and where children have been killed in the past?
We are not intending to cut bus services. Some children no longer qualify for a free ride. Their parents can, of course, pay for them to go on the bus, if they want to.
Sue MoroneyIn National’s last year in office it spent about $90 million a year on school transport assistance; today the Labour-led Government is spending in excess of $120 million per year—an increase of $30 million. Free buses are available to primary school students who live more than 3.2 kilometres from the nearest school, and to secondary school students who live more than 4.8 kilometres from the nearest school, where an alternative public transport system is not available. These regulations have been in place for many years, under both Labour and National.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Will the Minister give an assurance that full bus services to Maramarua School will remain at least until such time as a four-lane expressway and safe footpaths are built, or does he wish to be recorded—as suggested on Campbell Live last evening—as New Zealand’s most stupid Minister of Education?
I remind the House for the third time today that we have no intention of cutting bus services to Maramarua School. The parents of children who do not qualify for a free bus ride—and some parents’ children do not qualify—will be able to purchase a place on the bus, if they wish to. These are the same regulations that operated under National. I remind the House again that the Labour-led Government has increased funding for rural school bus services by over $30 million.
Peter BrownWhat will the effect be of this school bus carrying non-eligible children, and what will the effect be if they are turfed off the bus—a saving of a few dollars, or a second bus, or what have you? Perhaps the Minister would care to tell the House what he would say to the parents if one of these non-eligible children were killed on the road while walking to school.
What I will say is that the Government is committed to supporting parents whose children need to get to a school where there is not a public transport system. That is why we have increased funding for rural bus services by $30 million.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Is the Minister prepared to heed the advice of Grahame Smith, the former principal of Maramarua School, who writes: “The thought of children of any age walking even a short distance along this road is mind blowing. I know from personal experience, as I lost a 15-year-old son on that road, near the school.”, or will he risk more children’s lives?
Everybody would have deep sympathy for anybody who lost a child in a traffic accident. But the bottom line is that there has to be rules about how funding is applied and about which parents qualify. We are not taking any services away from that school. Some children do not qualify for a free ride; others do. There has to be a formula, and the same formula that is used under this Labour Government was used under the National Government. I remind the House again that we have increased funding for rural school bus services by $30 million.
Hon Tony RyallI hear Mr Ryall saying that is a big deal. I bet it is a big deal for his constituents who live in the country, who are grateful for that support.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Why have the Minister and the previous Minister, Steve Maharey, refused, despite four formal requests from me, to give me a briefing on this recklessly dangerous policy, or is this yet another example of his Government’s plan to shut down the democratic process?
I have never refused to give the member a briefing; if he wants to come with me after question time, I will give him one then.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
I seek leave to table a New Zealand Herald article dated 12 November 2007, entitled—
Madam SPEAKER