Uber restricts drivers in quest to become legal

Thousands of Uber drivers have been blocked from the ride-sharing company’s platform as it strives to finally operate within New Zealand’s transport laws. Most of the drivers involved are believed to rarely use the service, if at all, although the group includes some who are in the process of gaining the necessary accreditation.

The US company, which allows customers to find, book and pay for rides using their phone, has been operating outside the law since it arrived in New Zealand in 2014, allowing drivers who do not hold passenger endorsements (known as P endorsements) to offer rides for money.

But new laws which came into force on October 1 regulated ridesharing for the first time, and the company has been granted a small passenger service licence by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). As a condition of the licence, Uber has taken steps to require drivers to hold the endorsement before taking money on rides.

Uber has confirmed that since October 29 its mobile app based platform had been limited to drivers who either hold a current passenger endorsement.

‘‘To ensure we are operating within New Zealand’s new regulatory framework, we have restricted access to the Uber app to any driver-partner who does not hold a P Endorsement,’’ the company said in a statement.

While the company did not provide details of how many people were affected, it is believed it covers a large number who have registered, but rarely or never offered rides.

‘‘The overwhelming majority of our most active driver-partners have obtained a P endorsement and continue to drive with Uber,’’ a spokeswoman for Uber said.

However, the group which has been restricted does include some drivers who have applied, but have yet to be granted, a P endorsement.

Uber said it was ‘‘working closely with the NZTA’’ and supporting the affected drivers during the ‘‘transition’’.

‘‘While we understand this is extremely frustrating for those driver partners who have been waitlisted, we are continuing to work with them and the NZTA to ensure that their application can be processed as quickly as possible,’’ Uber said.

Drivers who have been prevented from offering rides are still able to earn money by delivering with UberEATS.

NZTA has been approached for comment.

PHOTO: LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF Uber has long flouted regulations around its drivers, but in recent days has taken the step of preventing drivers without passenger endorsements from accessing its platforms.