The bus, built by volunteers from the Piopio College Trust, is a replica of a Ford Model T, which were used for New Zealand’s first ever school bus service.
Volunteers from the trust travelled from Piopio to Wellington with the bus for the event.
Former Piopio College principal Brian Tegg led the restoration project, with Max Laver and Mark Carter overseeing the conversion of the replica itself, with support from the Piopio College Trust and the local Historic Society.
Brian found an original 1921 vehicle, complete with chassis and working motor. He then got together with Max and Mark and set about converting it into a school bus.
Beginning in 1924, the Piopio school bus service was the start of school buses in New Zealand. It used 3 Ford Model T buses, which cost a total of £63 to build at the time.
The 3 original Ford Model T buses would transport about 30 students each to and from school every day.
Today, we spend around $186 million a year in getting kids to school where distance or access is a barrier - around 100,000 students every day.
This project recognises the important role the school transport service has played in our rural communities since it started.
The Piopio College Trust raised finds to complete the project. The Ministry of Education, Waitomo District Council, Trust Waikato, and members of the local community also made contributions.