What actions, if any, is the government taking in relation to School Transport Funding and Assistance to alleviate pressure caused by the ongoing fuel crisis on schools, educators, and/or school communities?

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Education’s (the Ministry’s) transport contracts and funding arrangements have an agreed mechanism to reflect movements in input costs such as fuel and labour. The Ministry regularly applies NZ Transport Agency’s diesel bus index, a composite index used to adjust funding in response to movements in a range of general input costs. According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which is the lead agency on the national fuel response, we are at Step 1, which indicates minor impacts are being felt and a minor National response is required. Schools and early learning providers should continue to operate as normal. The Ministry is in the preparation stage, focusing on providing clear messaging for our work and the sector on what they should be considering now and considering next, should the situation escalate. For information on assistance the Ministry is providing for school communities, I refer to my response to written parliamentary question 11356 (2026)