A driver who bought a “student gifts and asked the parents to take [them] out”, was stood down in 2021. The van’s camera was “obscured” and the incident escalated to police.
The father of a boy who lost his son in May after he escaped from a school van unnoticed and drowned, said his trust in SESTA had been “completely broken”.
“I’m really shocked. These children should all have been kept safe.
“There needs to be change.”
Another driver was also stood down but later reinstated, after tying a seatbelt around a student’s arm to restrain them in early February 2025.
Incidents investigated also included seven cases of children either being left in vans, forgotten or dropped off at the wrong location.
In those instances drivers were either given training, stood down or quit their jobs.
There were also seven complaints of alleged physical or sexual assault and aggressive behaviour.
Other incidents included two cases of drivers failing alcohol breath tests at police checkpoints during drop-off; both drivers lost their jobs.
In each of the cases, drivers were either provided further training or stood down.
As part of the OIA response, education ministry officials said it “took the safety of students on school transport seriously”.
School transport drivers must carry a special “passenger endorsement” licence to allow them to carry passengers, go through “fit and proper person” checks and undergo safety checks aligned to the Children’s Act 2014.
“The Ministry monitors compliance with all contractual, and safety requirements, and any non-compliance is treated seriously.”
The OIA noted if a serious breach has occurred, contractors would “generally stand down or terminate the driver in accordance with their employment obligations and internal processes”.
The above incidents have all been closed and the locations and names of contractors were not provided.
An investigation has been launched after 8-year-old Gurshabad Singh drowned in a pool after escaping a school van unnoticed in May. Photo / Alyse Wright
In May 8-year-old autistic, non-verbal Gurshabad Singh drowned after escaping a school Ritchies van unnoticed.
Gurshabad’s death has sparked a review by an independent Steering Group, under the Ministry of Disabled People, into SESTA safety and care standards, expected to be released in coming weeks.
An investigation by police and the coroner was also launched.
A ministry spokesperson earlier told the Herald the review team would speak with key stakeholders to identify systematic improvements.
“The work will focus on service delivery, communication, and clear roles and responsibilities.”
The parents of an 11-year-old North Shore boy locked alone in a van for hours have demanded answers from police after learning the transport company’s CCTV footage was corrupted last week.
Six weeks on from the incident, Ritchies has confirmed efforts to recover video from the in-vehicle camera have failed.