Queenstown has become ‘‘the Wild West of the taxi industry’’ since rules were relaxed in October last year, New Zealand’s taxi boss says.
More than 40 cabs have joined local ranks in the past six months and the national taxi federation's executive director, John Hart, is concerned some are ripping off tourists and drunk locals.
Under new legislation, taxis don’t need signs, meters aren’t necessary and it’s easier for cabbies to get passenger and transport service licences.
Last month, Mr Hart was contacted by a local whose daughter, after a night on the town, found she had been stung $242 in three transactions to travel from the CBD to Fernhill.
That was usually about a $15-$18 fare.
‘‘Somebody has been prepared to take advantage of her because she’d been drinking, so how else are they prepared to take advantage of her?" Mr Hart said.
He was also concerned that he had jumped in local cabs where ‘‘people were just filling in after their regular jobs’’ - becoming a risk to other road users.
Queenstown Taxis driver Richard Wood claimed some new cabbies were charging twice as much as his company’s rates.\
‘‘You hear they’re charging $140 out to Arrowtown, $80 to the Hilton’’.
Martin Amott, Green Cabs’ South Island operations manager, alleged ‘‘they’re preying on tourists’’. He feared it was damaging Queenstown’s reputation.
‘‘We’re an international destination and people are travelling in these vehicles. They’re getting ripped off and they leave with a bad image of Queenstown.’’
Queenstown Taxis boss Grant Scannell, an NZ Taxi Federation board member, planned to raise concerns with Destination Queenstown boss Graham Budd.
‘‘My drivers are hearing about [rip-offs] on a daily basis.’’
Mr Scannell and Mr Amott also noted that many new cabbies charged a minimum $15 - even for short trips.
But claims some new cabbies are overcharging visitors do not wash with Amir Malik, who joined the ranks as a self-employed driver last October.
‘‘For me, it’s a small town, if you are greedy, you will be exposed, and people will start complaining about it."
In fact, Mr Malik said he charged visitors less than the going rate, while also giving locals a good deal.
The $15 minimum claim was rubbish, he said.
‘‘If somebody’s doing it, that’s totally unacceptable. I’m not aware of it.’’
While some newbies might be greedy, that equally applies, Mr Malik said, to some drivers working for established companies.
He had complained about discrimination towards new drivers and written to councillors about concerns self-employed drivers would be ousted from the Camp St rank.
Mr Scannell, meanwhile, wanted the council to keep a register of every cab and their owners, and called for full signage on all cabs - not just the roof sign ‘taxi’ required by a local bylaw.
‘‘Anybody can come down the road and put a cardboard sign on their roof and you don’t know what you’re getting into.’’
NZ Transport Agency spokeswoman Frances Adank said it did ensure all people driving cabs are licensed to do so, and would check on local cabbies several times a year ‘‘to ensure they are abiding by the rules and that their vehicle is roadworthy’’.
- By Philip Chandler
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‘‘Somebody has been prepared to take advantage of her because she’d been drinking, so how else are they prepared to take advantage of her?" Mr Hart said
I suggest Mr Hart seriously consider his comments. That is a big jump between overcharging someone and suggesting sexual assault.
Where the taxi drivers who drove her to the CBD interviewed to get their point of view or do we just assume that all males are sexual predators in the current #metoo climate now ?