Free bus to Rotorua Museum for low decile schools

Rotorua school children will be able to continue visiting Rotorua Museum for free this year on a bus funded by the Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust Board.

The Trust Board has confirmed funding for the museum bus for a sixth year, providing free transport to the museum for all decile one to five schools in Rotorua district.

Since funding for the bus was first granted in 2010, more than 20,000 Rotorua students from 34 local primary, intermediate and secondary schools have taken advantage of the free bus.

Rotorua Museum's head of education Emma Liley said she was delighted by the news.

"Museum research shows the major barrier to lower decile schools participating in our programmes can be the cost of transport.

"But thanks to the generosity of Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust, the free museum bus provides a fantastic opportunity for students to understand the rich history and culture of Rotorua, as well as to explore significant touring exhibitions."

The museum bus service is operated under contract by Ritchies Transport.