Murchison school bus crash

Some schools students from Murchison Area School had the "worst possible start" to the year when the school bus they were on crashed on its way to school.

The bus, which had 15 people onboard went off the road in Tutaki Valley around 8.30am on Thursday - the first day of school for the year, according to a police spokesperson.

None of those onboard were injured but all students were transported for a medical checkup as a precaution, the spokesperson says.

Principal Andy Ashworth issued a statement via the school's Facebook page that the crash is under investigation by police, the bus company and the Ministry of Education.

Another bus has taken over the route while the crashed bus is recovered and repaired.