Eligibility

Transport zone maps

The Ministry of Education publishes an official zone map for every school in New Zealand - the main factor in deciding where your tamariki can access school transport assistance from.

Ministry of Education map

The Ministry of Education provides an interactive map showing transport zones for every school in New Zealand. These zones are the main factor in deciding where you can access school transport assistance from. Enter your address to see which schools you are zoned for.

Open the Ministry's mapping system
How transport zones work

To be eligible for free school transport, you must firstly live a certain distance away from the nearest school that your child can attend.

If you are eligible, you can use your entitlement to attend a more distant school, but you must make your own way to the halfway point between schools. In some circumstances you can access a bus service closer to your home - please contact your school for more information.

The eligibility distances are:

Years 0–8
Primary & intermediate
Your tamariki are eligible if you live more than 3.2km from the closest school they can enrol at. Attending a different school allows you to transfer eligibility.
📍 More than 3.2km from school
Years 9–13
Secondary
Your tamariki are eligible if you live more than 4.8km from the closest school they can enrol at. Attending a different school allows you to transfer eligibility.
📍 More than 4.8km from school
What is suitable public transport?

Public transport is considered suitable if:

  • Runs within 2.4km of your roadside gate
  • Runs within 2.4km of the school
  • Does not need your child picked up before 7am, and still gets them there on time
  • Collects them within an hour of the school day finishing
  • Needs no more than one change of bus
Not sure if your child is eligible? Get in touch with EasyBus and we'll help you work it out.