This week Uber announced the company had officially arrived in Oamaru to ‘‘provide flexible, reliable transport options for regional New Zealand’’.
The town was one of seven new areas Uber was coming to, including Wānaka, Levin, Tokoroa, Ashburton, Hāwera and Whakatāne, a statement from the company said.
Uber Australia and New Zealand managing director Emma Foley said the company was proud to be moving into Oamaru.
‘‘We’re helping local businesses connect with new customers and offering people a safe and reliable way to get to events, activities and home at the end of the night,’’ Ms Foley said.
She said Uber would also offer opportunities for jobs in Oamaru.
Trips were booked through the Uber app, she said.
Door 2 Door Waitaki Driving Services co-owner Annabel Denize said the presence of Uber was not likely to affect her business.
‘‘We don’t feel threatened by Uber. I’m not too worried because we don’t think the work is there,’’ she said.
Its own economic impact report said Uber contributed $1.5 billion to the New Zealand economy in 2024, including $67 million in tourism spend and $260m in value from ‘‘flexible work’’.
Mrs Denize signed up to the Uber app to get a better understanding of how it worked and the available business in a small rural town such as Oamaru.
She said certain seasons such as summer might provide more business with young people going out and possibly using Uber, but she believed most people would still use traditional taxi services.
‘‘The problem with Uber is that to actually make a half-decent income the driver needs to be getting job after job, not sitting around waiting and maybe getting one job in two hours on a Sunday night,’’ she said.
With her husband, Graeme, the couple had been operating their driving service, which included door-to-door and long-distance travel, for three years.
Mrs Denize said 95% of their work required ‘‘total mobility’’ cars for the elderly.
‘‘Most older people use the regional council’s total mobility cars too,’’ she said.
‘‘Uber won’t make a difference to them because they are not going to be able to provide them the subsidies that we can provide them. The majority are only paying around $5 to $8 per ride.’’
Mrs Denize said Door 2 Door was ‘‘not bothered’’ by Uber.
Greenestone Taxi owner and operator Jimi Greene said Uber would ‘‘not bother’’ him.
‘‘I don’t think Uber will stay here long, the town’s not big enough.
‘‘It’s an aged community and older people aren’t going to download an Uber app,’’ he said.
Mr Greene had also been operating his taxi service for three years and said while he was managing to earn a living, he could not ‘‘make a fortune’’ with the cost of living crisis.
‘‘It’s hard on everyone’s pocket at the moment, people just aren’t going out anymore,’’ he said.
Whitestone Taxis owner Murray Bell, who has been in the business for 25 years, said people ‘‘will make their own decisions on what has value and what hasn’t’’.
Some passengers might go for the cheapest option, while others would understand cheaper was not always better, he said.
Mr Bell said local businesses were invested in the community while an international company like Uber was profit-driven.
