Education · New Zealand
School transport help
School transport assistance is not one programme. Most children travel to school without government help. When distance, safety or disability makes ordinary travel difficult, the Ministry of Education has separate pathways.
- Official New Zealand sources
- Private · No account
Ordinary school transport
Some students can use Ministry-funded buses or other services when they live beyond the walking distance limit from their nearest appropriate school.
School transport services
- Who
- Students who live far enough from the nearest appropriate state or state-integrated school.
- Why it matters
- Provides access to school when walking or parent transport is not reasonable because of distance.
- Next step
- Check current distance rules and whether your school is the nearest appropriate one.
Conveyance allowance
When no suitable school transport service exists, a conveyance allowance may help with the cost of getting your child to school.
School transport and conveyance allowance
- Who
- Families where the student is eligible for assistance but no Ministry transport service is available.
- Why it matters
- May reimburse some travel costs when you must arrange transport yourself.
- Next step
- Apply through the Ministry of Education pathway and confirm what costs are reimbursable.
- Conveyance is about distance and service availability, not disability on its own.
- You may need to show that no suitable bus or shuttle serves your route.
SESTA (disability-related transport)
Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA) is for students whose safety or mobility needs mean they cannot use ordinary school transport, even with a conveyance allowance.
Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA)
- Who
- Students with safety or mobility needs that prevent use of standard school transport.
- Why it matters
- May provide specialised transport when ordinary buses or conveyance allowance are not safe or suitable.
- Next step
- Work with your school and the Ministry of Education to document the student's needs and apply.
- SESTA is not automatic for every child with a disability. The test is whether ordinary transport is unsafe or unsuitable.
- Assessment and school attendance context both matter.
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Check benefits and supportsOfficial sources used for this guide
Sources reviewed 2026-09-10. No guessed payment amounts.