Beat rush-hour blues and earn cash, too

Thomas Kiefer believes as many as 50,000 people in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will use the service in its first year.

Sick of being stuck in Auckland's gridlock on your own? A new app could give you some company for dreary drives into work - and you'll also pocket cash.

New Zealand's first carpooling and ridesharing app, Chariot, aims to get cars off the rank in June. Users will be able to share regular or one-off short trips and long-haul journeys. Drivers can rent up to three seats.

Chariot chief executive, Dr Thomas Kiefer, believes as many as 50,000 people in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will use the service in its first year.

"Our mission is to reduce the number of empty seats in cars, cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions by offering a platform for social ride sharing," he said.

Kiefer said drivers would be reimbursed for things such as car maintenance and fuel costs.

Chariot would pocket up to 20 per cent of each passenger's payment.

Chariot last week launched a crowd-funding campaign and will offer fare zones with decreasing rates for the more distance travelled. Fares will be agreed in advance.

It is expected to cost about $2.50 a kilometre for the first 5km. That would reduce to $1.75/km for a 5-10km journey, $1.25/km for a trip of 10-20km, and so on.

Average prices for taxis in Auckland are $3 when you get in the cab and about $2.60/km thereafter.

"Our prices should work out roughly about half that of a normal taxi fare and will be even cheaper when this is split between a number of passengers," Kiefer said.

Passengers and drivers signing up for the service will be required to undergo police and background checks, with Kiefer saying "safety is paramount".

But Roger Heale, director of the NZ Taxi Federation, expressed concerns about the service. "There are a lot of new ideas coming to the market but people should understand they could be getting into a car with someone who is not an approved driver," he said.

Chariot will come out just six months after Auckland police launched a crackdown on taxi alternative Uber, in which at least two drivers were charged with alleged offences under the Land Transport Act.

Dr Thomas Kiefer, CEO of Chariot, believes as many as 50,000 people in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will use the service in its first year.