Taxi reforms to even playing field

Current taxi laws are outdated says MP Simon Bridges.

The taxi industry is set for its biggest shake up in 30 years in a series of sweeping changes that will bring its drivers and those from Uber under the same rules.

The Government claims the move will make these services safer for passengers.

Ever since ridesharing service Uber arrived in this country two years ago traditional taxi companies have voiced concerns their new rivals had an unfair advantage because they were more lightly-regulated.

This had allowed Uber drivers to snatch business from taxis, whose operators had to jump through more hoops to become accredited.

The reform announced by Simon Bridges yesterday would bring taxi companies, Uber and any other small vehicle services like dial-a-driver under one set of laws. This, he argued, would provide an even playing field for all parties.

Under the proposed new rules, all drivers would need to display a driver identification card and have a passenger or P endorsement to be able to operate a passenger service vehicle.

This includes a police check, a fit-and-proper person inspection and regular checks that the driver is able to provide a transport service.

The time to acquire a P license has dropped from 55 days to around 20 and by the time the reform is in place the cost and time would have dropped even further, Bridges said.

The most noticeable of the changes would be the the signage rules for taxis, which now won't have to display information about fares, mandatory branding, or information supplied in Braille. Drivers also won't have to do an area knowledge test.

Safety was as a major focus in the reform with all vehicles required to have a security camera except in circumstances such as Uber where technology means driver and passenger information was recorded.

Other requirements being removed for companies or operators included the need to belong to an approved taxi organisation, a certificate of knowledge or a Passenger Service License.

- NZME

Uber drops fares:

* Uber is dropping its fares in Auckland and Wellington by 20 per cent. It proposes cutting the cost of becoming an Uber driver to $20 and take around six days to complete, compared with the three months and around $1500 previously required to get the three different licenses.