Ngāi Te Rangi iwi chief executive Paora Stanley says the victims of yesterday's bus crash are feeling bruised and battered, emotionally and physically.
The overturned bus near Sanson. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Walter Zweifel
Nineteen people from the iwi were injured yesterday afternoon when their bus crashed into a ditch near Sanson in Manawatu and rolled onto its roof.
Six of the 19 people were taken to Palmerston North Hospital with moderate injuries another 13 people were taken to Whanganui Hospital with minor injuries.
All but one have been discharged from hospital.
Paora Stanley Photo: RNZ / Justine Murray
The iwi members were returning from a protest at Parliament and were on their way home to Bay of Plenty.
Mr Stanley said his people had "heavy hearts" before they got on the bus.
"It was a pretty emotional time for our people," he said.
The bus which is owned by the iwi was a Fuso, the same make as the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bus which crashed coming down from the Turoa skifield last weekend killing an 11-year-old-girl.
Mr Stanley said all the usual checks had been done on the vehicle and linking the two crashes would be speculation.