Wainuiomata buses an essential service

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace will be taking to riding the night buses to Wainuiomata in a bid to counter safety concerns raised by drivers.

He says the Wainuiomata buses are an essential service for residents travelling home at night.

“We want to keep the buses running and I will be riding the late bus to show that Wainuiomata has a good service and safe service,” he says.

In a joint statement, the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Police and NZBus have called for positive monitoring of the situation.

“There is already good work being done by Police, Walkwise and Maori Wardens who keep a watching brief on the buses,” says the Mayor.

“The Chief Executive of New Zealand Bus, Zane Fulljames, advises me existing safety plans already in place are very robust. NZ Bus is seeking a positive outcome by working with partner agencies to improve safety.

“We also have a very active community patrol network backed by strong policing and CCTV cameras – I believe any issues can be resolved by everyone working together.

“All incidents, no matter how small, should be reported to build up an accurate picture of what is happening and whether there are recurring offenders.

“We can also look at the possibility of signage in Bunny Street outlining behaviour standards for travelling on the buses and in the bus stop area.

“Wainuiomata is a close community where everyone looks out for each other,” he says. “A wider community response will ensure people on the buses, including drivers, can travel safely on the Wainuiomata run.”