Taken for a ride
Catching a taxi in the regions
Taxi fares in rural areas of New Zealand can end up costing more than taking a similar trip in big cities, such as Paris or New York. It might even be cheaper to rent a car and drive yourself than it is to use a taxi.
It can cost anywhere between $50 and $80 for a 15-minute taxi ride in a rural area, figures given to The Dominion Post show.
For example, it costs up to $60 to get between the neighbouring Wairarapa towns of Masterton and Carterton, something Cartertonbased New Zealand First MP Ron Mark knows all too well.
However, Mark doesn’t blame the taxi companies.
‘‘The market only absorbs what it’s capable of absorbing,’’ he said.
‘‘It’d be nice if there were more taxis out and about, but the operators can only do what’s operationally profitable. If you don’t want to use one, make a plan and use a sober driver.’’
Like many regional centres, Wairarapa has fairly minimal public transport services. During the week, the last bus out of Masterton leaves at 5.20pm, while the last train leaves at 3.40pm. There is a special 8.20pm train service on Fridays, but weekend trains are even less regular.
Mark said more trains between Masterton and Wellington, in particular, would help the transport situation.
Masterton Radio Taxis director David Chinnery-Brown said the cost of taxis in Wairarapa was little different to those anywhere else in the country.
‘‘Flagfall is $5, and it’s $3 a kilometre after that. Get a taxi from the middle of Wellington to the Hutt and see how much that costs you.’’
Still, for many small-town residents, the cost is simply too steep.
In May, former Masterton resident Mike Rigg found himself needing to get from Masterton to Carterton to pick up his car.
‘‘I called the taxi man and he said it was going to cost $60.’’
Put off by the cost, Rigg decided to hitch-hike instead.
‘‘If the [taxi] price was $25 to $35, it would be decent but $60 seems a bit extreme,’’ he said.
For $60, you can hire a rental car for the day and drive for 200km before being charged extra.
There have been calls for ridesharing services like Uber to enter rural communities, because they are usually much cheaper – with the average trip costing between $6 and $20.
Though Uber has 300,000 passengers and 4000 active drivers registered in New Zealand, it has no plans to expand outside the country’s urban centres.
But there could be change ahead. Associate Minister of Transport Tim Macindoe said the Land Transport Amendment Bill could open up more options.
‘‘We’re working on legislative changes ... to make it easier for people to operate small passenger services [like taxis] and promote car-pooling,’’ he said.
‘‘We know that New Zealanders want choice and, through this bill, we’re creating a more level playing field for operators so that people can have more choices in the future.’’