North Canterbury Mini-Bus Trust
OUR STORY
The North Canterbury Mini-Bus Trust was set up in 1986 to fill a need for specialised transport in North Canterbury for the elderly and disabled.
In 1985, when Don Fairbrother, co-founder of the North Canterbury Mini-Bus Trust, was shown through Holmwood Hospital by head nurse Dorothy Mitchell, she shared with him a simple but powerful vision:
“I have a dream”
Dorothy’s dream was to offer her elderly and disabled patients more than just a change of scenery. She explained that many spent their days being wheeled from one window to another, and some, confined to their wheelchairs, had not felt the outdoors for over five years.
Deeply moved by what he witnessed, Don began thinking of ways to help make Dorothy’s dream a reality. Together, they formed a committee and launched a fundraising campaign to cover the $40,000 needed for a specially equipped wheelchair-accessible bus.
Although they had set themselves a two-year target, their determination - and the community’s support - saw the dream created in just six months. Over 39 years the Trust has been operating, the service has grown with the district to where the Trust now owns and operates 12 vehicles (cars and mini-buses) including 4 with wheelchair hoists and has become an integral part of the daily lives of many of the passengers who use this service. The current fleet is based in Rangiora, with 3 vehicles at Oxford and 2 in Cust. Collectively the vehicles exceed 100,000kms each year, and carry approximately 10,000 passengers. Passengers are transported door to door to Day Care Centres, Home Share, shopping trips, hospital and specialist visits and excursions, and as the Trust holds a rental license, are hired for individuals or groups to use. The Trust only operates due to the generosity and good-will of a team of 30 plus volunteers (including trustees) who between them spend thousands of hours each year driving for, or administering the Trust. The Trust only charged 50 cents per ride within Rangiora when the service started, and it still maintains this charge (with the exception of the shopper bus which is $2). Return trips to Christchurch hospitals and Specialists are extremely reasonably priced. The population of the Waimakariri District is one of New Zealand's fastest growing with a corresponding number of elderly and infirm. It is important therefore that the service is maintained and remains flexible to meet the increasing needs and demands of the people of North Canterbury. The North Canterbury Mini-Bus Trust provides high quality vehicles, fully maintained to Certificate of Fitness standard, in order to cater for the ever-increasing needs of the district. It is our intention to identify the needs of our community and endeavour to cater for them.
“I have a dream”
Dorothy’s dream was to offer her elderly and disabled patients more than just a change of scenery. She explained that many spent their days being wheeled from one window to another, and some, confined to their wheelchairs, had not felt the outdoors for over five years.
Deeply moved by what he witnessed, Don began thinking of ways to help make Dorothy’s dream a reality. Together, they formed a committee and launched a fundraising campaign to cover the $40,000 needed for a specially equipped wheelchair-accessible bus.
Although they had set themselves a two-year target, their determination - and the community’s support - saw the dream created in just six months. Over 39 years the Trust has been operating, the service has grown with the district to where the Trust now owns and operates 12 vehicles (cars and mini-buses) including 4 with wheelchair hoists and has become an integral part of the daily lives of many of the passengers who use this service. The current fleet is based in Rangiora, with 3 vehicles at Oxford and 2 in Cust. Collectively the vehicles exceed 100,000kms each year, and carry approximately 10,000 passengers. Passengers are transported door to door to Day Care Centres, Home Share, shopping trips, hospital and specialist visits and excursions, and as the Trust holds a rental license, are hired for individuals or groups to use. The Trust only operates due to the generosity and good-will of a team of 30 plus volunteers (including trustees) who between them spend thousands of hours each year driving for, or administering the Trust. The Trust only charged 50 cents per ride within Rangiora when the service started, and it still maintains this charge (with the exception of the shopper bus which is $2). Return trips to Christchurch hospitals and Specialists are extremely reasonably priced. The population of the Waimakariri District is one of New Zealand's fastest growing with a corresponding number of elderly and infirm. It is important therefore that the service is maintained and remains flexible to meet the increasing needs and demands of the people of North Canterbury. The North Canterbury Mini-Bus Trust provides high quality vehicles, fully maintained to Certificate of Fitness standard, in order to cater for the ever-increasing needs of the district. It is our intention to identify the needs of our community and endeavour to cater for them.
Trustees
We operate as an independent incorporated Charitable Trust (Incorporation No 2368108) and are registered with the Charities Commission (CC 25097).
Trustees:
Mr K. Don. Fairbrother QSM Chair
Mr Craig Sargison Secretary
Mrs Liz Rawling Treasurer
Mr Wayne Holton-Jeffreys
Mr Greg Wright
Mrs Valda. Reveley
Mr Mike Neason
Chairperson’s Report for the Year 01/04/2025 – 31/03/2026
What a fantastic year for the North Canterbury Mini Bus Trust, undoubtedly the most significant in our history and totally achieved by the support, dedication and efforts of our team of Trustees. In brief, we completed and opened our new garage, purchased three vehicles, (one with the assistance of Mainpower’s Decarbonisation programme), and still maintained a credit balance in our bank account. No mean achievement for a comparatively small “Not for Profit” Charity.