Owen’s magic school bus

Owen Perry might just be the coolest school bus driver in Nelson.

When Nelson Christian Academy students step onto his Nelson Coachlines vehicle every morning they are greeted with games, prizes, decorations, giveaways, maybe some Bob Marley – and of course, a big smile.

Owen starts his morning at 7.30am when he picks up his bus from the port. Then he’s off to Atawhai to collect students, finishing the run at the school in Marsden Valley.

Then, there is usually a round of golf before doing the afternoon run.

“It suits me - it’s a good thing for my age. I’m 66 now and it gets me out of bed. The kids keep me young,” he laughs.

Owen has been doing his run for around five years and got into the job after his local tour bus company struggled with Covid lockdowns.

“The last day before Covid hit, we were full up, then the next day there was nothing,” he says.

“So that’s how I got into this job because I used to use Nelson Coachlines’ buses if I had big groups. They said, ‘Come and work with us, we’ll keep you busy’. So, I did.”

Owen has a range of tricks up his sleeve to entertain his young travellers.

They play eye-spy, and he gives out a prize for the correct guess at the end of each week.

And with the prize being a box of iced animal biscuits, how could you not want to participate?

“I just started it as something to do while they’re on the bus,” he says.

“I’ll think of something we see on the way to school, and they write down their guesses and put them in a box. Then we get all the right answers out and draw one.

“They are always trying to get clues from me. It makes them think and keeps them busy.”

He has also introduced a new game, where they have to guess the word he is saying in te reo.

Owen also gives the kids an apple to snack on when he picks them up after school.

“I thought that they might enjoy something to eat at the end of the day, so I asked Echodale Orchard if they’d sponsor some apples, and they give me four bags every week.”

He even has a bus ‘mascot’ called Hiwi the Kiwi and bus newcomers can have their photo taken with him if they want to.

“It helps them to feel part of things.”

Kindness and nice manners on the bus are always rewarded with a box of Weet-Bix. A box (which currently features Owen’s granddaughter) always sits up front of the bus awaiting its lucky recipient at the end of each week.

“I asked Sanitarium if they would sponsor a few boxes to give to the kids. Instead of a few boxes, they gave me a whole year’s supply,” he says.

“I use those for if I see the kids doing something special for other kids, good manners and all that. But they learn after a while to try and say something nice in front of Owen!”

He says he never has to “growl” at any kids but instead gives them a gentle reminder to “be nice to people”.

“Yeah, they are good kids.”