Over the years, NZ students have arrived at school in various ways across land and water:
Travelling by boat
No date: Ferried to school across the Raglan estuary
Raglan and District Museum
Astride a young bull
1910s: Young bull ridden to school in North Auckland
Auckland Libraries
On horseback
ca.1910-19191: Four children on a horse riding to school
Auckland Libraries
Horse-drawn cart
1920: 'Governess cart' - horse-drawn two-wheel cart with a tub body with two inward-facing seats
Auckland Libraries
Cycling or dropped off by car
1972: Cars & cyclists outside Heaton Int. School, Christchurch
Christchurch City Libraries
Walking to school
ca.1930-1939: Students walking to St. Cuthbert's College for Girls, Auckland
Auckland Libraries
1. TravelLinG by boat to school
c.1900-1910: Boating to school at Whangape, North Auckland
Native children returning to school after the midsummer holidays, Whangape, North Auckland
Auckland Libraries
c.1900-1910: Children arriving on Rotokakaho Ferry to attend Whangape School
NATIVE CHILDREN ARRIVING AT WHANGAPE SCHOOL BY THE ROTOKAKAHO FERRY, HOKIANGA
Auckland Libraries
ca.1990-1909: Students standing on the river flats with ferry in background
The school boat in the roadless north
Auckland Libraries
ca.1910-1919: Off to school on the ferry at Albert Town, Lake Hawea, Otago
Off To School In The Cold Lakes District Of New Zealand
Auckland Libraries
1927: By boat on the Mokau River to Mangatoi School
Children in a boat on the Mokau River
Alexander Turnbull Library
2. RIDING BULLOCKS TO SCHOOL
ca.1920s: Students at Glexavy, Canterbury riding to school on bullocks
Novel steeds: children at Glenavy, Canterbury riding to school on bullocks
Auckland Libraries
3. Bullock cart
1900s: Bullock cart in Waiotapu Valley, Rotorua
Maori children going to school in Waiotapu Valley, Rotorua
Auckland Libraries
4. Horseback
Setting off to school:
ca.1900-1909: Going to school on horseback in the Waikato
Going to school in the Waikato
Auckland Libraries
1910: Off to school on horseback in Te Urewera
Maori children off to school: a picturesque scene in the heart of the Urewera Country
Auckland Libraries
1910: Two children riding a horse to school at Te Teko, near Edgecumbe in Bay of Plenty
Educating the Maori: children of the Te Teko native settlement, North Island of New Zealand, on their way to school
Auckland Libraries
ca.1920-1929: Five children astride a horse are off to school
Young New Zealanders Off To School
Auckland Libraries
No date: On their way to school, children fording the river, Waikawa Valley
On their way to school: children fording the river, Waikawa Valley
Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago
c.1930: Children on horseback from Te Whiti School in the Wairarapapa
Te Whiti School children on horseback
Wairarapa Archive
1947: Pupils arriving on horseback at Ruatoria, East Coast
Ruatoria Maori School, 1947
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
c.1950-1969: Four children on a horse heading for school at Pungaru, Northland
Four children on horseback at Pungaru
Auckland Libraries
1967: Students travelling by horseback to school at Ruatōria on the East Coast
Ruatoria Maori School, East Coast, 1967
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Arriving at school:
ca.1900-1910: Students with their horses & bikes at Station Creek School, Hakataramea
Station Creek School, Hakataramea
Waitaki District Council
No date: Students with horses & bicycles at Kapua School in Waimate district, Canterbury
Kapua School students with bicycles and horses
Waimate Museum and Archives
1947: School's horse paddock at Ruatōria, East Coast
Ruatoria Maori School, East Coast, Auckland
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
1950s: Students dismount from their horses at Ruatōria
Children and horses, Ruatōria
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
c.1951: Students & their leather bags being helped off ponies at Ararimu School, Drury, Auckland region
Ararimu, ponies and school children arriving
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Home time:
1900s: Heading home on horseback at Waikiekie, near Whangārei
After School In The Country
Auckland Libraries
1910: Students with their horses in the paddock at the back of Pakuranga School
Pakuranga School pupils and their horses
Howick Historical Village
c.1951: Children holding ponies' saddles & harness
Ararimu, school children with ponies' harness
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
c.1951: Children carrying halters & schoolbags head towards 7 horses at Ararimu School, Dury, Auckland region
Ararimu, ponies and school children arriving
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
5. HORSE-DRAWN CART
ca.1890s: Horse drawn bus, leaving the foot of the Makara Hill, Wellington, for the city
Horse drawn bus, leaving the foot of the Makara Hill, Wellington, for the city
Alexander Turnbull Library
c.1898: Off to school by horse and gig at Hawthorn Farm in Pakuranga district, Auckland
Off to school, Hawthorn Farm, circa 1898
Auckland Libraries
1925: Setting out on their three-mile journey to school in Ellesmere, Canterbury
A record for school attendance
Christchurch City Libraries
1927: Horse-drawn bus along Gladstone Road to Levin School
Page 41 Gladstone Road School Bus circa 1927
Kete Horowhenua
6. Motor bus
See DigitalNZ story "Catching the school bus" for images of buses over the decades
Photo: c.1924: Students lining up to board Dept. of Education motor bus
DigitalNZ
7. Train
1945: By train from Seddonville to the high school in Westport
Going to school by train
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
1947: Papanui High School pupils waiting for the train from Rangiora
Waiting for the train
Christchurch City Libraries
ca.1950s-1960s: Students from Westlake Girls' High School standing on a railway station platform
Waiting for a train
Auckland Libraries
8. Tram
1920s: Two students waiting for steam tram at Sheriff's Corner, Milford
Steam tram at Sheriff's Corner, Milford, turning into Shakespeare Road.
Auckland Libraries
9. Bicycle
Setting off to school:
1953: Pupils at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal with their bicycles
Pupils of Palmerston North Intermediate Normal with their bicycles
Palmerston North City Library
c.1960s: Cycling to Aranui High School, Christchurch
First day at Aranui High School
Christchurch City Libraries
1962: Students on bikes & walking to school in Tauranga area
School children on bikes
Tauranga City Libraries
1989: On their way to Horowhenua College at Levin
Karena Doig on way to school after Cook Strait crossing
Kete Horowhenua
2010: Five year old student heading towards Banks Avenue School, Christchurch
The Timaru Herald Image: Kirk Hargreaves 2010:09:13 10:00:27
UC QuakeStudies
Arriving at school:
1961: Arriving at Palmerston North Girls' High School
"Arriving for the new School Year" PN Girls' High School
Palmerston North City Library
1970s: Bicycle parking area at a school
Bicycles at school
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Home time:
1959: Departing Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School
"First Morning Back At School Over"
Palmerston North City Library
1978: Biking home from Kaiaua School on western shore of Firth of Thames
Kids and choppers, Kaiaua, 1978
Auckland Libraries
10. Scooters & SkateBoards
2015: Scooters & bicycles parked in the bike rack at Oaklands Primary School, Halswell in Christchurch
The bike rack at Oaklands Primary School
Christchurch City Libraries
2016: Multi-coloured scooters stored outside a classroom at South New Brighton School, Christchurch
Scooters at South New Brighton School
Christchurch City Libraries
11. Cars & Vans
ca.1950-1969: Student wearing uniform standing outside family car at Kio Kio
Linda Hoffman
Auckland Libraries
1957: Students being dropped off by car at Te Aro School, Wellington
Partially blind children getting out of car, Te Aro School, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
1978: Rosehill College student participating in a Driver Education Programme introduced to Auckland schools 4 years ago
Taking the wheel, Papakura, 1978
Auckland Libraries
2014: Driven back to school by car
Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Back to school. 2 February 2014
Alexander Turnbull Library
12. MotorbikeS
13. WALKING
1897: Four girls walking to school in the bush, West Coast Road
On the way to school in the bush, West Coast Road, N.Z.
Auckland Libraries
1925: Students walking to Phillipstown School, Christchurch
Are we downhearted? : girls merrily on their way to Phillipstown School on the day Christchurch schools reopened after five months due to the remov...
Christchurch City Libraries
c.1958: Students walk 1/2 mile together to Hora Hora School, Whangārei
Robyn Scott (primer 2) escorts her three neighbouring friends (primer 1's)
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
1966: Two students walking home from school, hand in hand, along East Tamaki Road, Otara
'Together, holding hands', Otara, 1966
Auckland Libraries
1977: Group of children walking to Manurewa Central Primary School
Walking to school, Manurewa, 1977
Auckland Libraries
1969: School patrol outside Melville School, Hamilton
Hamilton, School Patrol outside St Mary's School
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
1983: Silverstream School pupils with red pedestrian flags
Silverstream School pupils with red pedestrian flags, crossing Fergusson Drive near the Home of Compassion.
Upper Hutt City Library
2000: Botany Downs Primary School crossing wardens
School crossing, Botany Downs, 2000
Auckland Libraries
Home time for Christmas!
1972: Children at Wilton School race across the playground on their way home for Christmas holidays
Alexander Turnbull Library
14. "Walking School bus"
A "Walking School Bus" is similar to a normal school bus except children walk to and/or from school along a designated route, under the supervision of a parent, or other adult volunteers, who act as the Walking School Bus driver.
Find out more on Waka Kotahi: Education portal, https://education.nzta.govt.nz/teacher-resources/school-community-partnerships/walking-school-bus/
2007: Walking school bus in Ōtara, Auckland
Walking school bus, 2007
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
2019: Video of Birkenhead School students accompanied by 80 year old volunteer
Meet Geoff, the oldest Walking School Bus volunteer in Auckland
Radio New Zealand
15. Main means of travel to school, 2018 Census
Students aged 10-14 years
Figure.NZ
Students aged 15-29 years
Figure.NZ
16. Overseas students
Some students overseas cross mountain passes and zipline over canyons to journey to school!
See: Global citizen (20 Jan 2018): "17 Incredible ways children get to school all around the world", by David Brand & Erika L. Sánchez
17. Find out more
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency: Education portal, https://education.nzta.govt.nz/
AT: Travelwise school programme, https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/travelwise-school-programme/
Bike On NZ Charitable Trust: Bikes in schools, https://bikeon.org.nz/bikes-in-schools-intro/
Starship: Safe Kids Aotearoa: Skateboarding and scootering policy guidelines