School kids hospitalised after incident on Wellington bus

Emergency services have responded to central Wellington this morning after a bus carrying Wainuiomata Primary School pupils blew a head gasket and fumes affected those on board.

Nine children were taken to hospital.

1News footage from the scene outside Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa showed emergency services including Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) police and Wellington Free Ambulance.

A cordon had been set up, and a group of children were sitting on the concrete outside while emergency services worked around them and inspected their bags. Wellington Free Ambulance staff were seen speaking to pupils.

Wellington central assistant district commander Matt Franklin told 1News students and teachers from Wainuiomata Primary School were travelling into Wellington for a kapa haka performance when the incident occurred.

"Unfortunately, on the motorway the bus blew a head gasket. So, there's been fumes inside the cabin of the bus. They've transferred onto another bus, and some have presented with respiratory problems upon arrival at Te Papa," he explained.

He said there were 44 people on the bus – including 41 children - and 19 children presented with symptoms. Nine children were taken to hospital.

He said many complained of respiratory problems, and "some sort of abdominal complaints".

Franklin said the rest of the children were "fully checked over by Wellington Free Ambulance staff, and now they're free to go about their day for the Kapa Haka performance".

In a statement on social media, Wainuiomata Primary School said there had been "complications" on one of the buses, and confirmed the parents had been informed.

"We have just spoken to the bus company. Their mechanic has been on-site. There was no fire. The bus broke down because of a blown water hose," they wrote.

Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed it had responded, but said Fire and Emergency New Zealand was the lead agency.

Te Papa said the incident was unrelated to the museum.