A school bus service that has operated in Hawke's Bay for the last two decades has been cut by the Education Ministry - impacting plenty of students, parents and educators.

The Ministry has cut the Clive school bus service after a review, claiming there were public buses the students could use instead.

Havelock North Intermediate principal Nigel Messervy says the public bus route would be a longer one for students  and they wouldn't get back to Clive until 5pm.

"In some cases, those children are then walking to their homes - which might be up to a couple of kilometres away. That's a massive day."

Havelock North High School principal Joel Wilton agrees the longer commute time doesn't seem appropriate. 

"I think a lot of parents are finding it pretty difficult in the current situation, even with public transport or school transport available to them - and this is kind of another hurdle."

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