Māori wardens will be brought in as security on a bus route in Rotorua deemed too unsafe for bus drivers.
The move comes after a driver was attacked by a group of children, aged as young as eight. Residents say there's much more than a bus route at stake.
Dennis Hobson says he finds it difficult to get around. He's frustrated he's having to walk longer to catch his usual bus.
"[It's] a pain in the backside because I'm in my mid-70s now, and of course my hip joints are starting to get a bit stiffer."
A month ago, buses were diverted away from Wrigley Rd and Ford St.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council says it took the extraordinary step because of safety risks after a group of children, some as young as eight, punched and kicked a female bus driver in her 60s.
That followed four other incidents where the kids threw rocks at the bus, smashing windows and swerved in front on the bus on their bikes.
Residents told Newshub people on the street are being terrorised - but rather than further disconnect the community, authorities should be helping the group of kids.
Irihapeti Waaka has lived in the area for 35 years. The group has yelled at her and threatened to tag her fence; she's so intimidated, her son has moved in.
"This gang of kids are a different cycle to when I came through, you know what I mean? These kids are really arrogant and they're really scary when they start doing that," she says.
Ms Waaka is annoyed at the lack of communication from the regional council and says stopping the buses has had a big impact on the elderly and those without cars.
But she says it's also highlighted how much help these kids need.
"It's these kids first we need to help, the parents aren't going to step up - and if they're not going to step up, somebody has to," she says.
"It's more than a bus, isn't it? It's more than a bus."
Some locals Newshub spoke with have drawn parallels between the recent problems and drug use. One woman told me four synthetics dealers had opened shop in the area in the past year.
It's an experience a police officer also told Newshub that isn't out of the ordinary, and problems are intergenerational.
The council says the buses will be reinstated soon, but this time with Māori wardens onboard.
Newshub.
