How to use Pokapū Waka Kura | School Transport Hub
Please allow 30 minutes to complete your application. You can save the application at any stage and return to it later. Before you start, we recommend you:
- complete applications with a Chrome browser for optimal performance, however you can also use other browsers if required
- add a Pokapū Waka Kura school user role added to your ESL account.
- have the student information, including NSN, at hand
- have the relevant bank account information for payments, including evidence of your bank account.
Once submitted, applications will take up to 20 working days to be processed. After your application has been submitted, you can select to receive email updates on the application’s progress. Alternatively, you can view the online application and track the application as it moves through the approval process.
About the SESTA Service
Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA) is for students aged between 5 and 21 years who have safety and/or mobility needs preventing them from travelling independently to/from educational settings.
If your child has safety and/or mobility needs, they may be eligible for SESTA. While it is your responsibility to get your student(s) to and from school, the Ministry may provide assistance in cases where extra assistance is required to make the journey as safe as practicable for your child.
Applying for SESTA
You can now apply for Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA) online. If you are a student’s enrolling school you can complete the application on behalf of the caregiver.
Alternatively, caregivers can start the online application on the Ministry’s website without having to log in. Once the caregiver submits their application, the enrolling school receives an email and uses their Education Sector Login (ESL) to view the application and complete their section of the application before submitting to the Ministry.
For a Safe Travel Plan, please have the student’s medical, behavioural and equipment information available.
About the conveyance allowance
Students may be eligible for a conveyance allowance if they meet all three transport assistance criteria and:
- there is no school bus available
- they live more than 2.4 kilometres from the nearest school bus route
- they are attending their closest appropriate school.
Having met the above criteria, the types of students who are eligible for a conveyance allowance are:
- Students who have been expelled from their closest school
- Students with court orders or shared custody arrangements
- In certain circumstances, students attending contributing schools
- Gender-diverse students
- Students with Muslim affiliation
- Students in emergency accommodation/transitional housing
Applications for a conveyance allowance should be completed by the caregiver and the school. Schools should apply as early as possible for new applications and whenever there is a change of address and/or a change of school.
Completing the application
Caregivers can start the online application on the Ministry’s website without having to log in. Once the caregiver submits their application, the enrolling school receives an email and uses their Education Sector Login (ESL) to view the application and complete their section, before submitting to the Ministry.
Alternatively, schools can complete the online application on behalf of/with the caregiver. Please complete a new application for each student applying for a conveyance allowance.
Applications will be considered by School Transport once the application has been fully completed and verified bank details have been provided.
You can view applications for your school by selecting from the main menu ‘My School’s Applications’. From here you will be able to:
- resume an application that has been previously started
- submit your school’s Declaration for a Conveyance Allowance application
- view the status of an application and whether action is required by your school or the Ministry
- view completed applications (approved or not approved).