TAXI MAG N E W Z E A L A N D TA X I F E D E R AT I O N M AGA Z I N E
MAKE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE IN DUNEDIN and change your life
DUNEDIN TAXIS IS NOW RECRUITING
DUNEDIN TAXIS WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SUITABLE CANDIDATES TO BECOME OWNER/OPERATORS IN THE LARGEST FLEET IN DUNEDIN BENEFITS OF COMING TO DUNEDIN AND JOINING OUR FLEET: Get behind the wheel of your own Taxi and be the boss of all your earnings. Own a Van, Car and we have an opening for a Total mobility vehicle placement for Jan 16 Secured Long term Investment & low costs to become one of our owner/operator shareholders. Work with the finest Management Dunedin Taxis has an Airport rank 32kms away from the city Centre. Our entry costs are low Did you know that Dunedin has a median house price of just $275,000. We live in a vibrant city with exceptional surroundings. Yes, it can get cold in Dunedin – but we have seasons and our summers at the beach can be extraordinary. Come to Dunedin where you earn a living and have a life! It’s not a hard choice – it’s a smart move.
ENQUIRE NOW – EMAIL: manager@duned i nt a x i s. c o . nz
T EL E P H ON E : (0 3 ) 47 7 7 7 7 7
INDEX I WELCOME
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I ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS TAXIS
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I GOLD BAND
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I ONE-LEGGED ENERGY CITY CABS DRIVER GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR HIS CUSTOMERS
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I UBER IN NEW ZEALAND [THE REAL STORY]
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I CITY UNITED
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I WHERE SHOULD I LOCATE MY GPS
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C O N TA C T U S LEVEL 3 93 BOULCOTT STREET PO BOX 1778 WELLINGTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: ROGER HEALE R O G E R . H E A L E @ TA X I F E D . C O . N Z DDI: 04 499 0611 / MOB: 021400719 ACCOUNTS: DEIRDRE DOYLE A C C O U N T S @ TA X I F E D . C O . N Z W W W. TA X I F E D . C O . N Z
MAGAZINE II 2015
WELCOME W
elcome everyone to the mid-year edition of TaxiMag. I for one was particularly glad to get past June 21st and know that the days are getting longer again even if the temperatures are dropping. Sadly, it does seem that New Zealand is witnessing more and more extreme weather related incidents and it is heartening to hear of communities (and drivers) rallying around and going the extra mile to ensure people’s safety. Rhonda Anderson of River City Cabs, Wanganui, has asked me to thank all of you for your good wishes and offers of help during the recent floods. It is difficult to think that the Eastside riverbank, so picturesque during our conference cruise, is now just a mudflat. Speaking of the Conference, the details and registration forms for the conference in Christchurch are now available on our website. The conference will run from the afternoon of Monday 28th to the morning of the 1st October. There will be a power packed bunch of speakers concentrating on how the industry needs to evolve and compete going forward. The Federation will also be taking a new approach and opening up the Wednesday to non-Federation members. It is an opportunity for non-members to get to know the Federation and vica-versa as we enter this new era. Of course, the new era is dependent on the results of the SPSV legislative review that is currently taking
place. The context of the review has become far more professional and the Federation is now working together with some of the larger non-members and industry professionals to present our thoughts in a united manner. This united front extends across EVERY facet of our industry from the call centres to the drivers and how we talk to our passengers regarding the review and the Transport Network Companies (TNCs – such as Uber, Lyft etc). We have included some information specifically about this later in the magazine we would appreciate it if you could spend some time reading it. Working together is also serving to break down historic barriers between companies. Being an industry review, we do not (and neither do non-members) believe the Federation should be paying for everything. The inclusion of others not only strengthens our position but also shares the financial burden which is likely to be considerable. This desire to unite brings me to some good news regarding membership. We welcome back to the Federation City United Taxis of Dunedin (50 cars) and Gold Band Taxis of Christchurch (155 cars). Both companies have been members of the Federation previously and you can find out more about them later in the magazine. 5
NZTF II NEW ZEALAND TAXI FEDERATION
ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS TAXIS T
he Greens love them. Labour’s Stuart Nash called for the Government’s crown fleet to become them and now Taxis are trialling them. In the sunny climes of Northland a council and a power company have slowly put into place a plan which appears to be bearing fruit.
“People love it!” says Margaret, “The older people feel they’re being transported by the future and the men are fascinated with the mechanics. It also comes with lots of boot space. I don’t usually spend 30 minutes charging, just a quick 10 minutes between jobs is fine.” Whilst Margaret drives, the owner Joe, who is also a member of the local council and a major proponent of the concept has a more practical viewpoint.
“New Greens co-leader James Shaw trials Whangarei’s Electric Taxi”
NorthPower generates 100% of its electricity from renewable sources and has been proactive in building charging stations around town. These stations contain different platforms depending on your car and your needs. Of particular interest to us are the “fast” charging stations that are able to complete an 80% charge within 30-minutes. Not only that but the cost of charging is highly attractive, currently just $2. Your $2 gets you about 100km of town driving taxi style (in a Nissan Leaf) and the results speak for themselves. 6
“I got the idea after reading about a UK taxi company http://insideevs.com/nissan-leaf-taxi-hits100000-miles-still-battery-bars/ . I called and they confirmed that their cars had done over 150,000kms, 25,000 jobs and saved £8,500 per year. Additionally, the battery still fully charges and the car continues to use its first set of brake pads (EVs have regenerative braking so there is barely any wear and tear). So far, the story has repeated itself in New Zealand. In May, I spent just $120 on fuel (electricity) whilst driving on average 225kms per day, 5 days a week.” The savings are considerable and with NorthPower adding more and more charging stations, the problems of “filling up” are being eradicated. Within a year Whangarei has gone from one Electric Vehicle to thirty.
MAGAZINE II 2015 Where to from here? Clearly, the greatest block to mass acceptance is the lack of fast charging stations. It is all very well and good for Auckland Council to fanfare an electric car sharing scheme https://at.govt. nz/projects-roadworks/electric-car-share-scheme/ but the likelihood of that getting off the ground is low due to low population density. If councils and governments really want electric cars to become the norm it should engage with the Taxi industry that was so responsible for the mass acceptance of Hybrid technology. Our business model is highly suited to the current EV operating environment e.g. lots of short trips not long single journeys and we stimulate natural interest in the technology via our massive client base. How about simply ADDING (not converting) some taxi ranks that are for the exclusive use of EVs and come with charging stations? Extending the exemption on the RUC beyond 2016? The opportunity to make attractive and creative money making opportunities from charging stations are endless and it will undeniably have to be the private sector that takes the lead if this is to become a mass reality. Currently there are 74 charging stations around the country, but mostly in the North Island.
S O M E S TAT S According to www.driveelectric.org.nz there are currently in New Zealand 695 Electric Vehicles 74 Charging Stations 8 Different car models
C O ST P E R 1 0 0 K M S ( E S T I M AT E D ) “FUEL” PER 100KM
COST PER “FUEL”
COST PER 100KM
COST PER 100,000KM
EV
17kWh
$0.15 per kWh
$2.55
$2,550
Hybrid
6 Litres
$2 per litre
$12
$12,000
Petrol
9 Litres
$2 per litre
$18
$18,000
C O 2 E M I S S I O N S ( C A L C U L AT E D F R O M W W W. S U N E A RT H T O O L S . C O M ) F R O M D R I V I N G * “FUEL” PER 100KM
CO2 G/KWH, G/KM
CO2 PER 100,000KM
EV**
17 kWh
150 g/kWh
2.5 Tonnes
Hybrid
6 litres
138 g/km
13.8 Tonnes
Petrol
9 litre
207 g/km
20.7 tonnes
*It is understood that the production of an EV costs more CO2 than that of a combustion engine but the overall CO2 benefits (production cost + emission cost) are substantial. **Whilst an EV doesn’t emit CO2, the calculation is based off the CO2 required to make the electricity required. Although North Power’s own electricity is 100% generated from renewable sources, 80% of New Zealand’s total electricity is generated this way. 7
NZTF II NEW ZEALAND TAXI FEDERATION
GOLD BAND REJOINS FEDERATION J
une 1929. That’s when Gold Band Taxis started operations in Christchurch, as a privately-owned Taxi Company, in June 1929. It was owned by Mr Charles Trillo, who started with a fleet of 18 vehicles called “Whippets”. Since that time we have been successfully providing transport solutions for the benefit of all residents in (and visitors to) Christchurch.
B Y T H E 1 9 3 0 ’ S T H E F L E E T WAS U P G R A D E D , A N D DRIVERS WERE ALL REQUIRED TO WEAR WHITE UNIFORMS:-
In the 1950’s once again n 1952, Mr Trillo retired. One of his last act was to convert Gold Band Taxis into an Industrial & Provident Society, so that ‘his drivers’ could benefit from membership in their own company.
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The first Christchurch Taxi company with a fullyautomated phone booking system, which can recognise repeat customers, dispatching taxis without the need for human intervention;
Gold Band Taxis has continued as one of the most progressive and innovative Societies in the taxi industry to this day. We have accumulated many ‘firsts’ to our name. We are:-
The first Christchurch Taxi company to offer online taxi ordering for corporate clients, with automated dispatch and GPS tracking capability, so customers can monitor the arrival of the taxi right to their premises;
The longest-serving taxi company in Christchurch; The first Christchurch Taxi company to offer a computerised dispatch system using encrypted data, offering crucial security to our customers;
The first South Island Taxi company to offer a smartphone “app”, with real-time GPS monitoring of taxi movements, so that customers can watch the taxi track to their door;
The first Christchurch Taxi company to upgrade from DOS-based dispatch systems to new-generation systems, that offer our customers real-time GPS tracking;
The first Christchurch Taxi company to adopt a standard fleet colour, a standard dress uniform for drivers, and compulsory name badges – setting a standard of customer service;
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MAGAZINE II 2015 The first Christchurch Taxi company with in-house fleet inspectors – making sure that passengers get a true ‘Gold standard’ experience with every ride; The first Christchurch Taxi company to have reflective fleet signage and markings, improving passenger and driver safety during darkness and poor weather conditions;
In the 1990’s, Gold Band adopted a branding that marked us out for the next 20+ years. Many cabs converted from petrol to LPG, marking a trend towards lower carbon emissions and sustainability. Then, like many other fleets around New Zealand, hybrids came into play. Our fleet continues to evolve with the times. Our recent (early 2015) re-branding exercise has seen us adopt unique signage, and large advertising sign lights, which offers a chance for recovering Christchurch businesses to put themselves ‘ahead of the pack’, marking themselves out as progressive and different by advertising on NZ’s second-only fleet to offer this service.
The only South Island Taxi company to start its own finance company (now transferred to independent ownership, but still with an active affiliation with Gold Band Taxis). The only Christchurch Taxi company to operate its own, in-house taxi workshop, as a service to members, and keeping our fleet moving. Gold Band Taxis has been the ‘seed bed’ for well-known names within the taxi industry. Bernie Hall was our GM for approximately 14 years and, since he left, an impressive and progressive lineage of managers have committed time to our Society. We were pleased in March 2014 to employ our first Accountancy-trained GM, Peter Lawry, who has brought a new, commercial view to our business. Four months after Peter’s employment, we also appointed our first totally independent, professional director to the Board – David Blackwell, the former 20year CEO of the Canterbury Tennis Association. David has brought clear governance skills to our Board table, driving some really positive change. Under the leadership of the current Board (four of whom are well known to the industry, each of them have more than 30 years’ experience in Gold Band Taxis), we are pleased to be re-joining the NZ Taxi Federation, and are grateful both to the Taxi Fed Board and members for extending us your welcome. We believe that now is the time for our industry to unite; to put aside differences that may have been our Achilles heel; to offer a collective, clear and unified voice to the New Zealand public: “Ours is an industry that champions customer safety, professionalism, and standards. Ours is an industry united in its determination to looking forwards and to innovate. Taxi companies are committed to being the best and to seeing New Zealand’s small vehicle transportation sector flourish and thrive, for the long term good of the travelling public.” 9
NZTFNZTF II NEW II NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND TAXITAXI FEDERATION FEDERATION
ONE-LEGGED ENERGY CITY CABS DRIVER GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR HIS CUSTOMERS att Adkins has been driving for Energy City Cabs for almost one year. He is the owner/operator of Energy City Cabs’ two new taxi vans, which happen to be the only taxi vans operating in New Plymouth.
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newspaper congratulating Matt on the hour they enjoyed being driving around New Plymouth visiting Pukekura Park, the port and Paritutu Rock, all the time with Mt Egmont as a backdrop.
On June 17 he took eight mid-Otago ladies who were in New Plymouth attending the National Women’s Institute AGM, to see some of the iconic sites. One of these ladies, Dorothy Clark, later wrote to the local
Matt has never let the loss of his leg to cancer when he was eight years old hold him back. In fact he adapted to the change almost immediately when he got home after the amputation.
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MAGAZINE II 2015
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“Mum said the day I got out of hospital I was back on my push bike,” Mr Adkins said. “I don’t like sitting still. “Who needs two legs when I’ve got four wheels?” It’s fair to say Matt’s life has revolved around driving any type of vehicle he was able to get his hands on. While driving tractors and quad bikes as a youngster on the family farm, Mr Adkins said his father bought him his first car, a Datsun, when he was legally able to drive at 16. He has had a range of past driving experience on the farm, as a courier driver, and as a driver for the New Plymouth Ironside service. When he’s not on the road for close to 60 hours a week, he’s keeping his van clean and tidy by vacuuming it once a day and washing it 3-4 times a week. The New Plymouth man said he had never felt disadvantaged by missing his left leg and although he
has a prosthetic limb, he gets around more often than not on crutches. Adkins said he enjoys “meeting new and interesting people” and ensuring that his passengers receive a gold standard service, which includes providing a hand with shopping bags when required. Adkins said he had to sell his 4WD truck, which he often took off-road in his free time, to buy his latest pride and joy. He is already looking at the option of buying another van - an 8-9 seater automatic - as an investment in his new venture as well. One of the positive aspects of taking on the van service, launched last month was that he no longer has to turn bigger groups away. “Since we announced we’ve had a van, the response has been awesome. Due to Energy Cabs having the largest reach of the ATOs in Taranaki, Matt is considering expanding his van fleet into Hawera and other parts of Taranaki also. 11
NZTF II NEW ZEALAND TAXI FEDERATION
UBER IN NEW ZEALAND [ THE REAL STORY ] W
e understand that many of you are asked about Uber by the public and how you respond may actually encourage people to try the service even if your intention was different, so it’s important to get your response right. Firstly here’s some background to better understand the issues and how they affect us in New Zealand. Global Deregulation: New Zealand deregulated its taxi industry 15-years ago and it is now more competitive than in most other countries in the world. At that time there were over 2,500 taxis. Within 10 years, that number tripled to over 8,000 and has now settled down below an estimated 7,000. The Transport Network Companies have effectively deregulated the global Taxi industry in three years. However, as they cannot find regulated drivers they need to find unregulated drivers. That is why there are so many “mums & dads” driving for these companies. In New Zealand the one thing we have is an excessive supply of drivers and hence 90% of those people who drive for Uber are existing taxi drivers. 12
Growing pains: The only thing worse than excessive regulation is no regulation. The mass deregulation without rules seen overseas has resulted in peripheral neighbourhoods losing services and leaving our most vulnerable citizens without transport. Governments around the world are now understanding this and starting to regulate the TNCs. Slowly, they are becoming more and more like taxis and the environment more and more like that of New Zealand. The two graphs below show how the decrease in San Francisco Taxi numbers has led to a 44% decrease in wheelchair trips. This unforeseen result of Uber taking Taxi work has severely affected the wheelchair bound community.
MAGAZINE II 2015
TOTAL WHEELC HAIR TAX I TRI P S DEC L I N E D BY 44% BETWEEN MARC H 2013 TO J ULY 2014
Q: So you’re not worried about them taking your business? A: Of course! But the reality is that they’ve been operating in New Zealand for 2-years now and consumers prefer taxis. Q: But everyone tells me they’re cheaper. A: They’re not as cheap as they make out. The question you should ask is “Why is Uber so expensive?” They recently increased their fares 33% (in Auckland) and yet are not required to have cameras or any of the other safety features you expect to receive. So really, the difference is less than the GST that they may or may not be paying, depending on the driver. Q: Uber doesn’t pay GST? A: Uber leaves it up to the individual driver to decide. In a Taxi GST is included in all fares.
Are we affected?: The threat is very real but as you can see in the graph below consumers unquestionably prefer the safety and convenience of a Taxi. S O U R C E : TA X I C H A R G E
G R O W T H I N PAT R O N A G E ANNUAL TRIPS 7.000.000,00
We’ve also enclosed a handy reference card with this issue for you to keep handy in your cab’s sun visor for reference. Please do use it.
MEDIA
5.250.000,00
3.500.000,00
1.750.000,00
0,00
Q: They say they are safer? A: There is no proof to that argument. Bad things happen. We have cameras that provide immediate proof of guilt or innocence. Without that proof from the camera, that person could be driving again tomorrow.
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015E
2 0 1 5 E ST I M AT E D T R I P S B AS E D O N E X T R A P O L AT I O N O F F I R ST 6 - M O N T H S
So how do we relate this to our customers? Here are some suggested answers to questions you might get asked. Q: How are you guys doing with Uber? A: They’re just another competitor.
Finally, try and refrain from talking to the media, even “off the record.” A recent episode on TalkbackZB was highly detrimental as uninformed drivers, determined to have their say, were picked off by a seasoned broadcaster. For the same reason we also ask that you take extreme care with anything you say on social media – keep polite and stick to the facts and don’t say or do anything that would put the industry in a bad light. Neither do we wish to engage in bad-mouthing the opposition. Facts and service are what will win the argument and the customer. Whist we are all passionate about our industry and dislike having it put down by journalists, you must understand that these people are just “fishing” for a reaction to create buzz on their programme. We end up doing ourselves far more harm than good. Much better to give your manager or Roger a call on 021400719 so that they can get on the programme and put some things right. 13
NZTF II NEW ZEALAND TAXI FEDERATION
E
arlier this year the new board and management of City United Taxis decided to investigate the possibility of rejoining the NZ Taxi Federation. With the advice and support the Federation can provide particularly in relation to the many new and varied challenges faced in our industry, we were aware that national representation is the best way forward. We are extremely pleased with the timely and professional manner in which our application was processed and are delighted to now be a member of the NZTF.
W I T H R E G A R D O U R N E W C O M PA N Y 2013 was a very special year for both City Taxis Society Ltd and United taxis when both companies merged to become City United Taxis. Together now we proudly offer 90 years experience providing friendly, efficient, and professional service to both residents and visitors to Dunedin. Combining our skills and experience, enables a better service to the greater Dunedin area than one company could ever have done alone. We are now the preferred taxi company for a host of Dunedin’s leading hotels, motels and corporate business houses. Our diverse fleet of cars, vans, mobility vehicles and 22 seater bus means we can cater to a large range of transport needs. We currently 14
have agreements with a number Dunedin’s boarding schools to carry their students to and from sporting practices/events, physio and dental appointments etc. These contracts, along with the mobility work, form a large part of our day to day business.
BILL OVERTON Bill Overton introduced Dunedin’s first dedicated wheelchair van in 1993, and grew his fleet into a thriving business called Mobility Taxis. He then formed United Taxis some time later supplying both cars vans and mobility vehicles to the Otago public. Bill’s commitment to assisting the disabled is not just a business, it is his life. He has become a trusted friend to his disabled customers some of whom he has provided a safe and reliable service to for most of their lives. In December 2005 Bill was rewarded for his dedicated service to the disabled and the Otago public by being honoured with the Queens Service Medal. The team of City United Taxis are proud to be associated with Bill as a member and director of City United Taxis. We look forward to our involvement with the NZTF and working together with other members for the betterment of our industry.
MAGAZINE II 2015
Where should I locate my GPS? Best practice guide
Having a portable device in your car, whether it’s your mobile phone or a GPS, is becoming a common feature for Aucklanders. Unfortunately portable devices can be a distraction and impair a driver’s field of vision. Diverted attention is a leading cause of crashes in New Zealand. In 2013 alone, crashes involving diverted attention resulted in 21 deaths and 170 serious injuries.
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One of the safest places for a mounted device is in the lower right hand corner of the windscreen, as this creates the smallest blind spot.
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If the lower right hand corner is not practical, locate your device as low as possible on the windscreen.
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Holders that can stick to your dashboard or clip on to air vents are also available in many stores, reducing blind spots even further, when compared with windscreen mounts.
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Programme your journey into your GPS before you leave.
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Pull over or have a passenger enter a new destination if the journey conditions change.
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Use the audio instructions or have a passenger direct you, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road.
5542_GPS DL_0515
The location of portable devices in your car can play a crucial role in keeping you and other road users safe. Auckland Transport has created this pamphlet to encourage best practice for drivers thinking of mounting devices in their vehicle.
Tips for drivers
For more information visit AT.govt.nz/safejourneys
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NZTF II NEW ZEALAND TAXI FEDERATION
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