Offers of help for Kaitaia woman but no solution

Kaitaia pensioner Eileen Reed may be about to solve her transport problem, but not the bigger issue arising from the town’s lack of public transport since Kaitaia Taxis ceased operating last year.

Mrs Reed (No taxi leaves woman stuck, April 9) told the Northland Age last week that she was unable to drive her car, and relied upon a once-weekly ride, provided by her home help, to do everything, from shopping to banking, that required her to leave her house.

She confided yesterday that she does get out for lunch on her birthday, but had to wait until March next year for that to roll around again.

Meanwhile, Mrs Reed’s story prompted a number of offers of help on the Northland Age Facebook page, and suggestions including that someone should establish a taxi service (described by others as not cheap or easy to do).

Some wondered if Kaitaia could support an Uber service, other ideas including that a community car be bought, and driven by volunteers, and that Te Rarawa and Te Hiku Hauora might look at filling the gap. There is a taxi-type service in Kaitaia, using a van, but Mrs Reed said she had talked to the operator, and was unable to use it.

But while she was grateful for the sympathetic response to her predicament, she said yesterday that she was far from alone in needing public transport.

Anyone who would like to contact Mrs Reed is welcome to do so via the Northland Age.