Young students stranded at North Shore stop as packed bus drives by, Auckland Transport adds service after complaints

An Auckland father says his 13-year-old daughter is repeatedly being left behind at the school bus stop, leaving her “daunted” as she tries to navigate public transport for the first time.

After multiple complaints from the Whenuapai family and others in the same situation, Auckland Transport has agreed to add an extra bus to the packed route, which services three schools.

A father of a year nine Westlake Girls High School student, who wished to remain anonymous, said he felt for his daughter, who repeatedly watched the bus pass her by this year at the Smales Farm station.

The bus travels from there through Greenhithe and Herald Island. It also serves Westlake Boys’ and Carmel College.

The man’s daughter had no issues in the morning, as hers was one of the first stops. But in the afternoons, the bus was filled to the brim with students from other schools and would bypass girls as they waited at the station.

“[It is a] bit daunting for 13-year-old girls who are trying to navigate their way on public transport for the first time in their lives. Especially starting school, they’ve got enough going on.

“It’s just really not helping the whole transition process.”

He and his wife had been forced to leave work early to fetch his daughter. Other times, she had got bolder and tried to catch other public buses to get closer to home.

“As their confidence builds, they might be able to get the public buses, but then it’s a three-bus and two interchanges kind of thing,” the father said.

“And they would be with the general public, and who knows what they’re going to run into as young girls.”

He and other concerned parents had called Auckland Transport multiple times and sent emails complaining about the situation, but had yet to receive a response.

“Just absolute radio silence, so that’s probably the most frustrating thing, considering that a third of our rates go towards public transport.

“I kind of want to stop paying my rates and say, ‘Well, when you can give me an answer as to why you can’t provide the service that you’re supposed to provide, then maybe I’ll think about paying the money that you want me to pay’.”

In a response seen by the Herald, the bus company, Tranzit, said this was a common issue in the first weeks of a new school year due to fluctuating student enrolments.

The company said it would provide an additional bus if requested by Auckland Transport, if any buses were available.

The Herald sought comment from Tranzit, but did not receive a response.

Auckland Transport confirmed it would be adding a service on the packed route temporarily this week.

A spokesperson said the agency had received one report of two instances of the bus “being full” this year.

Daily monitoring had also observed “heavy loading” in the afternoons.

Westlake Girls’ High School has been approached for comment.

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