A water taxi service starts today between Okahu Bay and the Viaduct Basin.
The Auckland City Council has approved a three-month trial for the service to be run by SportYachts NZ, the company that operated the popular yellow water taxis during the summer of the America's Cup.
Now the water taxis have been fully weatherproofed they will run in rain or shine between 7 am and 10 am and 5 pm and 8 pm Monday to Friday.
A round trip will cost $10.
Principal skipper Richard Rusbatch said the 8m water taxis would provide an alternative to congestion for eastern suburbs motorists, who are used to getting caught in traffic snarl-ups along Tamaki Drive.
"One thing Auckland has got going for it is that its waterways are not congested yet," he said.
The water taxis will leave from the Auckland City Council-owned jetty, The Landing, at the Okahu Bay boatyard. Parking is plentiful.
The chairman of the city council parks and recreation committee, Phil Raffills, said the trial would give the council and the water taxi operator an opportunity to assess whether the new service could be permanent.
The council would also monitor the taxi service's impact on traffic and parking during the trial.
Mr Raffills said the fact that the taxis could carry up to 320 passengers a day was potentially good news for people seeking to opt out of regular peak congestion on Tamaki Drive.
Mr Rusbatch said the company would soon seek permission for a similar service between Auckland City and the North Shore.
Water taxi trial to help ease snarl-ups
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