Funding is available from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to assist schools in establishing Walking School Buses.

AMI sponsor our programme and provide WSB vests once a WSB is up and running. We also have WSB promotional items that you can order from the promotional items section.

Set Up Grant
Each Walking School Bus is eligible for up to $500, on the condition that they keep the bus running for a minimum of two years. The grant money can be used for promotional items, incentives and other materials needed for a successful Walking School Bus, but not for personnel time.

Recruiting and retaining adult volunteers to operate the bus is very important. Therefore it is recommended that WSB consider using a proportion of their grant to operate a volunteer recognition programme. Such programmes use grocery vouchers (or similar) to reward volunteers, it should be noted that ARTA will not fund incentive programmes that use Petrol Vouchers.

Walking School Bus Set Up Fund Application Form (260 KB)

Discretionary Funding
Discretionary funding is available once a term to support the ongoing success of your Walking School Bus.

Walking School Bus Discretionary Fund Form (927 KB)

Annual Evaluation
Walking School Buses have grown rapidly in schools across the Auckland Region. In order for people and organisations involved with Walking School Buses to better understand this growth and the associated benefits and challenges we need to gather information from Walking School Bus’s once a year. Walking School Bus routes that have been in operation for more than a year (as of the start of the 4th school term) will be eligible for a $75 grant per route upon completion of the annual evaluation form. Look out for the evaluation in the last term of the school year.