Nine To Noon Around the motu : RNZ's Jimmy Ellingham
Feb 24, 2026
Jimmy Ellingham, RNZ reporter in Manawatū who files on regional life. He talks about school bus funding changes that leave families scrambling. He covers Tongariro fire recovery and its mixed effects on local tourism and businesses. He recounts the removal of the historic Opiki toll bridge and the debates over heritage versus council budgets.
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School Bus Funding Changes Hit Rural Families
- Changes to Ministry of Education bus-route compliance shifted long-standing funded services into disrepair.
- The ministry reviewed 265 routes, cancelled 13 and added 13, forcing towns like Rongotea and Tangimoana to seek alternatives or pay fees up to $500 a term.
Parents Start Paywall Bus Service For Local High School
- Parents in Tangimoana created a user-paid bus charging $500 a term to keep children at their preferred Palmerston North schools.
- Nikita Walker described borrowing from family, loans from employers, and dipping into retirement savings to cover costs.
Tongariro Fire Caused Uneven Tourism Recovery
- The Tongariro fires depressed visitor spending and disrupted the summer tourist season, with uneven recovery across businesses.
- Some operators saw cancellations and staff cuts while others reported only short-term pain and later good bookings.