Dear Ministry of Education,

I am writing pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982 to request the following information relating to the school bus transport contract awarded to Go Bus Transport Ltd in the Manawatū–Whanganui region.
Contract Details
1. A copy of the contract or tender agreement between the Ministry of Education and Go Bus Transport Ltd for the provision of school transport services in the Manawatū–Whanganui region, including the contract term, total contract value, and annual payments.
2. The date on which Go Bus commenced services under this contract, and the scheduled expiry date.
3. The total annual sum payable to Go Bus under the contract for each year of the contract term.
Service Reductions
4. A list of all school bus routes in the Manawatū–Whanganui region that have been discontinued, reduced, or modified since Go Bus assumed the contract, including the date each change took effect.
5. The number of students affected by each route change identified in response to question 4.
6. The total number of students in the Manawatū–Whanganui region who were eligible for and receiving Ministry-funded school transport in the final year of the previous provider’s contract (Uzabus/Madge Coachlines), compared with the number currently eligible and receiving Ministry-funded transport under Go Bus.
Financial Impact
7. The estimated cost savings, if any, realised by Go Bus as a result of the route reductions and discontinued services identified in response to question 4.
8. Whether the Ministry has adjusted (increased or decreased) the payments made to Go Bus following any route reductions or service changes. If so, please provide details of each adjustment, the date it took effect, and the financial value.
9. If no adjustment has been made, please confirm whether Go Bus continues to receive the full contract sum originally tendered, notwithstanding the reduction in services.
Eligibility Policy
10. Any internal policy documents, guidelines, or directives issued to Ministry staff (including by or to James Meffan or members of the school transport review team) regarding the interpretation or application of the “nearest suitable school” eligibility criterion for school bus entitlement.
11. Any correspondence between the Ministry and Go Bus regarding the transport of non-qualifying students on contracted school bus services.
12. Any records of the “cartwheel” or inter-school transfer arrangement previously operated in Palmerston North, under which rural students were collected and redistributed to their chosen schools, and any Ministry decision or communication discontinuing this arrangement.
Previous Provider Comparison
13. The total annual sum paid to Uzabus (or Madge Coachlines) under the previous Ministry contract for the same region, for each of the final three years of that contract.
14. The total number of school bus routes operated under the previous contract in its final year of operation, compared with the number currently operated by Go Bus.

Yours faithfully,

Liam Berry