Proposed Epsom Girls Grammar School Bus Service
Help Us Design a School Bus Route Around Your Family’s Needs
Kiwi Coaches is assessing demand for one or more dedicated, student only school bus services to and from Epsom Girls Grammar School.
The service is being explored in response to concerns raised by families about overcrowding, extended standing journeys, reliability and the availability of suitable school transport between areas such as the North Shore, Epsom and Remuera.
Kiwi Coaches has been operating for over 30 years, currently runs 30 priavte school services across Auckland, and has NEVER dropped a service, while naturally we have had late arrivals or such with traffic and other occurances, with our live tracking, this can be communicated in real time to parents and the schools, and with tag on, tag off services, parents and caregivers can be sure students get to and from school safetly.
No final route has been selected.
Instead of deciding on a route before hearing from families, Kiwi Coaches is asking parents and caregivers to register their interest and tell us:
Where students would be travelling from
Which days and journeys they require
Their preferred pickup area
How far they could reasonably travel to a central bus stop
Whether morning, afternoon or return travel is required
Whether siblings or other students may also be interested
This information will allow us to identify where demand is strongest and design the safest, most practical and commercially viable service.
Price
As this is a private service only for students and not subsidised by Auckland Transport/MOE it does need to cover operational costs.
As a general rule we say 25-30 students make a viable service, lower than that is possible, but becomes cost prohibative.
The cost of the service does depend on demand With 40+ students on a service costs tend to be lower per rider, and also we are able to be more flexible, allowing 50%-80%-100% passes, for those who may not need a service every single day. If the numbers are lower, only full passes are plausable to keep the service operational.
As a general range, depending on exactly how long the service is (We have services that start as far away as Albany and Papakura), and ridership, a term pass, which allows full travel on the bus for a term, ranges from 480-650. This is what we will determine with the responce to the potential service.
Register Your Interest
Completing the form does not commit your family to using the service or making a payment.
It simply helps Kiwi Coaches determine whether there is enough demand to establish a dedicated route.
What Is Being Proposed?
Kiwi Coaches is exploring a direct-to-parent school transport service operated specifically for participating Epsom Girls Grammar School families.
Under this model:
Families would register and book directly with Kiwi Coaches
The service would be funded by participating families
All drivers are twice Police Vetted ans specially trained for school runs, we try to keep the same driver on runs longterm, allowing students and families to get to know drivers. Our longest serving driver has been doing his same run for over 20 years.
Routes and central pickup points would be based on registered demand - they can vary with student and community needs - we are NOT limited to AT routes and bus stops. Often to avoid AT passengers to have pick up spots outside community venues or stores for a more pleasent student experience
Students would travel on a dedicated school service - No public access what so ever
Families would receive clear service and communication information
Live vehicle tracking could be made available - parents can see, in real time, where the bus is, making for safe pick up and drop off
Passenger tag-on and tag-off technology - parents can track when students tag on and off service - in the event the bus is late due to traffic or other, we communicate directly with the school so students can head right to class, any lateness is already registered
Kiwi Coaches would manage the vehicles, drivers, route planning and daily operations
Any service would remain subject to sufficient demand, safe stopping locations, operational feasibility and appropriate access arrangements with the school.
Potential Route Corridors
The following corridors are examples only. They are not confirmed routes or final stop lists.
The information submitted by parents may result in one of these routes being adjusted, combined, divided into separate services or replaced with a different route.
Option One: Upper and East Coast Bays to Epsom
A potential route could serve areas such as:
Albany → Rosedale → Browns Bay → Mairangi Bay → Milford → Takapuna → Epsom Girls Grammar School
This route may suit families living across the Upper North Shore and East Coast Bays.
Depending on demand, the service may use selected central pickup points rather than stopping in every suburb.
Option Two: Glenfield and Lower North Shore to Epsom
A second possible corridor could serve areas such as:
Glenfield → Birkenhead → Northcote → motorway connection → Epsom Girls Grammar School
This could provide a more direct option for students travelling from the central and lower North Shore without requiring a lengthy deviation through the East Coast Bays.
Option Three: Eastern Bays and Remuera to Epsom
A potential eastern route could serve areas such as:
St Heliers → Kohimarama → Mission Bay → Remuera → Greenlane → Epsom Girls Grammar School
The exact viability of this route would depend on the number and distribution of interested families.
Other Areas
Families from other parts of Auckland are also encouraged to register.
If there is a clear cluster of demand from another area, Kiwi Coaches may investigate an additional route or an alternative route alignment.
The most important information is your student’s approximate home area and the locations where your family could safely access a central pickup point.
How Will Routes Be Selected?
Kiwi Coaches will assess the registrations based on:
The number of interested students - larger numbers are the most viable, but we have run smaller numbers but at a higher term pass cost
Where those students live
The ability to create a reasonably direct journey
Safe bus stopping locations
Morning traffic conditions - We can use bus lanes but are not limtied to them
School start and finish times
Expected travel times
Vehicle capacity
The number of students requiring morning and afternoon travel
The cost of operating the service
The price families would need to pay
The ability to provide a reliable service throughout the school term
Where possible, routes would use a limited number of practical central pickup points. This helps keep journey times reasonable and reduces the risk of delays caused by numerous individual stops.
The proposed service would not normally operate as a door-to-door service.
What Happens After You Register?
Once sufficient registrations have been received, Kiwi Coaches will:
Map the general location of interested families.
Identify clusters of demand.
Assess possible central pickup points.
Estimate morning and afternoon journey times.
Determine the appropriate vehicle size.
Prepare one or more preliminary route options.
Calculate indicative parent pricing.
Communicate the proposed route, stops, timing and pricing to interested families.
Parents will then be able to review the proposal before deciding whether to formally enrol their student.
Submitting the form does not create a contract or payment obligation.
Indicative Timings
Exact pickup and arrival times cannot be confirmed until the route has been designed.
The morning service would be planned to arrive at Epsom Girls Grammar School with a reasonable allowance before the school day begins.
Afternoon departure arrangements would be developed in consultation with the school and participating families.
Route planning would account for:
Auckland morning traffic
Harbour Bridge and motorway conditions
School-zone congestion
Safe loading and unloading
The need to avoid unnecessarily long student journeys
Live operational tracking can help families see where the bus is and reduce uncertainty when traffic conditions affect the timetable.
Safety, Tracking and Passenger Accountability
Kiwi Coaches has more than 30 years of passenger transport experience and operates daily school services across Auckland.
Our school transport systems can include:
Live vehicle and operational GPS tracking
Tag-on and tag-off passenger accountability
Professional school-service drivers
Appropriate driver licensing and vetting
Documented routes and driver instructions
Direct communication with families and schools
In-house vehicle maintenance
Backup vehicles and operational support
Route and capacity reviews as demand changes
Kiwi Coaches’ school-service record is built around maintaining scheduled services and responding quickly when traffic, vehicle or operational circumstances change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an official Epsom Girls Grammar School bus route?
Not yet.
Kiwi Coaches is independently assessing whether there is enough parent demand to establish a dedicated service. Any final operation would require appropriate coordination regarding school access and student loading arrangements.
Has a route already been decided?
No.
The listed corridors are examples to help parents understand what may be possible. The actual route would be based on the location and number of interested families.
Can I register if I do not live on one of the suggested routes?
Yes.
Families from all areas are encouraged to register. A different corridor may be investigated if enough students are travelling from the same general area.
Can my student use the bus only on certain days?
Please register your preferred days. Whether flexible or part-week bookings can be offered will depend on available capacity and the final service model.
Will students be guaranteed a seat?
Yes if the service reaches viablity, each student is is guaranteed a seat.
Will parents be able to track the bus?
Kiwi Coaches operates live GPS and vehicle-tracking systems. The exact parent access arrangements would be confirmed as part of the final service proposal.
What happens if the bus is delayed?
Traffic can affect any Auckland school journey. Kiwi Coaches’ operations team monitors services and can communicate disruptions or significant delays to families.
When could the service begin?
A commencement date will depend on the level of demand, route design, vehicle availability, school access arrangements and parent enrolments.
Families should indicate in the form whether they need the service immediately, from the next school term or from the next school year.
Does registering mean I have to join?
No.
The initial form is an expression of interest only. Families will receive the proposed route, timing and indicative price before being asked to make a formal commitment.
Privacy and Use of Information
Information submitted through this page will be used by Kiwi Coaches to:
Assess potential passenger demand
Design possible routes and stops
Contact families about the proposal
Prepare indicative timings and pricing
Plan a service if sufficient demand exists
Kiwi Coaches may provide Epsom Girls Grammar School with aggregated information such as the number of interested families and the general areas of demand.
Personal contact information will not be published or used for unrelated marketing.
Register Your Family’s Interest
A reliable parent-funded service can only be developed if we understand where students are travelling from and what families need.
Even if you are not yet ready to commit, completing the form will help us determine whether a practical route can be established.
For questions about the proposed service, please contact:
Kiwi Coaches
Email: info@kiwicoaches.co.nz
Phone: 09 636 5232
Website: www.kiwicoaches.co.nz
This page relates to a proposed independent Kiwi Coaches service. Routes, stops, timings, vehicle capacity, pricing and commencement dates remain subject to demand and operational approval.