Nine To Noon Around the motu: Jimmy Ellingham
Mar 19, 2026
Jimmy Ellingham, a Manawatu-based RNZ reporter covering regional and rural issues. He outlines the pause on school bus-route reviews and impacts on families. He discusses the Kaimanawa horse muster and population-control concerns. He describes Lake Horowhenua weed-harvest efforts and improving water quality. He reports a reversal on Levin speed-limit plans and a Government farm cadet programme gaining strong interest.
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Pause On Rural Bus Route Reviews Leaves Some Families Stranded
- The Ministry of Education paused further rural school bus route reviews after community pushback.
- The pause won't reverse term-one changes, leaving some families paying about $500 a term or arranging costly user-pays services like in Palmerston North.
Family Petrol Bills Tripled After Bus Route Change
- Parent Bex Barr had to drive her son to Palmerston North after bus changes, seeing petrol costs jump from $100 to nearly $300 a week.
- Other small towns set up user-pays services to fill gaps, but some families still drop out because weekly passes became unaffordable.
Funding Reprieve Secures This Year's Kaimanawa Muster
- The Kaimanawa muster will proceed after DOC reversed an initial decision not to fund it, avoiding a likely spike in horse numbers.
- DOC will fund this year's muster plus extra fertility control, aiming to remove about 150 of ~550 horses for rehoming.