Homicide inquiry into bus driver's death

A homicide inquiry has begun into the death of a bus driver in the Hutt Valley.

The 64-year-old Epuni man, Herman Emanuel Curry, was found unconscious at the Waterloo Interchange by the bus he'd been driving about 10 last night.

Ambulance staff were unable to revive him.

The man was a Valley Flyer driver for NZ Bus.

Detective Inspector Mike Arnerich says about 30 investigators are on the case.

"We have scene examination underway, the post-mortem is underway as we speak and the detectives are out there doing a lot of investigations to actually try and determine what happened."

Detective Inspector Arnerich says the driver's cash tin is missing, and police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the cash box to contact the police.

He says the tin is crucial to the investigation, and when they find it they'll have a clearer picture of what happened.

Chief executive of NZ Bus Zane Fulljames says the incident has deeply impacted the NZ Bus and Valley Flyer family.

He says drivers have been given the option of staying home today, as they deal with the tragedy.

NZ Bus is assisting police with their inquiries.

Some services in the Hutt Valley have been affected as a result of the incident.

Police suspect the incident may have been a botched robbery.

Photo: NZ Bus driver Herman Emanuel Curry (supplied)