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Misbehaving college students have forced a school bus to stop at the top of Weld Pass, 14km southeast of Blenheim, leaving some to find their own way home.
Ritchies Coachlines is meeting representatives of Marlborough Girls' College and Marlborough Boys' College this week to try to identify four or five students who had been persistently setting off a courtesy buzzer.
Ritchies manager Greg Jowers said the buzzer was also intended to alert the bus driver to problems such as overheating, low air and open doors.
The driver stopped the bus on Weld Pass about 4pm on Friday, telling students they would be returned to Blenheim unless those responsible owned up.
Mr Jowers said the students then opened the doors themselves and some began walking towards Seddon.
They were all picked up after cellphone calls were made to parents, the Marlborough Express reports.
A student on the bus, who didn't want to be named, said the driver had told them if they didn't like the ultimatum they could get off and walk.
Marlborough Girls principal Karen Stewart said the college was investigating the incident.
A prefect on the bus had alerted the school and the main concern at the time was to ensure students were collected and got home safely.
Marlborough Boys principal John Rodgers said it appeared to have been a relatively minor incident.
The college, from time to time, removed students' bus-riding privileges because of misbehaviour.
Mr Jowers said yesterday that there had been behaviour "issues" on the bus previously.
He met representatives from both colleges yesterday to try to identify the latest culprits and have them removed from the bus service.
Mr Jowers said after meeting the colleges that he hadn't had a chance to speak again to the driver.
Further meetings with the colleges are expected today.
- NZPA
