19550 (2026). Dan Rosewarne to the Minister of Education

19550 (2026). Dan Rosewarne to the Minister of Education: Has she seen any updated forecasts on future spend on school bus routes; if so, do forecasts expect an upturn or downturn in expenditure?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised by the Ministry of Education that Ministry school bus routes are funded through the School Transport appropriation. This is a demand-driven appropriation, adjusted for changes in the number of students eligible for school transport assistance and movements in the global rating adjustment calculated by the New Zealand Transport Agency. School Transport funding for 2025/26 and outyears is $267.081 million. Forecast adjustments are made through the October and March baseline update process. This is also my response to written parliamentary question 19551 (2026).