None of the about 25 passengers were hurt when the engine of an Atomic Shuttles bus caught fire on State Highway 1, 5km north of Blueskin Bay, yesterday.
The incident closed about 50m of the inner northbound lane near the top of the Evansdale incline from about 3pm to 6pm.
Waitati Fire Brigade Deputy Fire Officer Lindsay Brown said the fire was put out by a passerby before the brigade arrived.
However, the bus had dumped a lot of oil on the road, which required it to be gritted before it could be reopened. The bus was towed.
''It's quite a mess.''
Atomic Shuttles company director Maree Robertson said the bus was heading to Christchurch when the engine failed.
Its driver pulled over and got all the passengers out and away from the bus, although they were never at risk during the incident, she said.
Another shuttle bus was called out and passengers were on their way to their destination only about 1.5 hours behind schedule, Mrs Robertson said.
