Stylish new look for airport bus service.

NZ Bus hopes more frequent, comfy buses with free internet connections will persuade travellers to ditch private cars and taxis and take the Airport Flyer to and from Wellington Airport.

The company has splashed out $4 million on nine air-conditioned Airport Flyer buses, built by Kiwi Bus Builders in Tauranga, that from today ply the routes to and from the Hutt Valley and the airport every 15 minutes.

Plush leather seats and extra luggage and leg room will come at the price of higher fares. The cost of a single ticket between Lambton Quay and the airport will rise from $6.50 to $8.

Managing director Bruce Emson said the fare was still significantly less than the cost of a taxi, and the buses were less harmful to the environment. “Our investment in the Airport Flyer is an expression of our desire to make bus transport as good as it can be.” The company, a subsidiary of NZX-listed Infratil, runs most of Wellington’s bus services.

Mr Emson believed the buses were the first in New Zealand to be kitted out with free WiFi, which will let passengers with iPods, laptop computers and some mobile phones connect to the internet.

He expected business people would use the service to work, reply to emails and catch up on news. Tourists might use it to look for things to do to entertain themselves while in Wellington.

Wellington Airport has provided free WiFi at the airport since 2006.

Taxi company Green Cabs’ chief executive Callum Brown said the Airport Flyer competed more with the airport shuttle, but taxi companies relied heavily on the airport run and those that did not have a strong corporate or government customer base might be hit. “We will watch with interest.”

Green Cabs supported people taking public transport. “A lot of people say there are too many taxis on the road, and I think that is just the fact there are a lot of taxi companies that are running inefficiently with the amount of work that they do have, and a lot of those taxi companies do operate from the airport.”

The Airport Flyer carried 600,000 passengers last year. Wellington Airport says there are 7 million visits to the airport, annually.

Greater Wellington Regional Council has budgeted $10m for a real-time passenger information system that will track Wellington buses by satellite and display their expected departure times on electronic displays that will be fitted to some bus stops, and on the internet. Project leader David Lewry said the council was on track to pilot the system in October and make it available to the public in March.

Taxi firms cry foul over photo tactics.

Taxis parked in disabled car parks have riled a New Plymouth resident so much he has taken to photographing them.

Keith Jarman cannot believe the number of times he has seen the “unprofessional and totally rude” behaviour of taxi drivers taking up the vital spots and says they need to sharpen up.

Over three days from June 9 to 12 Mr Jarman caught two New Plymouth Taxi Society vehicles and one Energy City Cabs car in a disabled park outside the Gover St toilets using his cellphone’s camera.

Spokesmen from both companies have said they do not condone the illegal behaviour but the chairman of the New Plymouth Taxi Society said it was unfair to single out taxi drivers when people regularly abused the reserved spaces.

Mr Jarman said he had approached one of the drivers to ask for an explanation and said her attitude was “down right rude”.

“She told me there were no others free and I had just walked past two vacant spaces. It boils down to share bloody laziness,” he said.

“They have their carparks and Joe public can’t park in them, if you do it’s holy hell!”

For someone who is not displaying a mobility parking permit the fine for parking in a designated disabled carpark is $150, as set by the Ministry of Transport.

Chairman of the New Plymouth Taxi Society Morrie Collins said drivers sometimes used the spaces when picking up or dropping off disabled clients.

However, he also felt it was unfair for members of the public to be picking on taxi drivers who had stopped at the toilet to quickly use the facility while working when “you only have to go up to Centre City to see all the flash cars taking up those spaces”. Mr Collins said that people parked in taxi spaces all the time, sometimes for hours, which was not on, but if someone used a taxi stand while “rushing to the toilet” he didn’t think “any driver would complain”.

“It’s better than weeing your pants or something like that,” he said.

Mr Collins would be speaking to the driver and said he wanted to make it clear parking in disabled parks was not appropriate, however he was still “furious at the manner this person has been taking photos of taxis parked in disabled parks”.

“It’s not fair,” he said.

Manager of Energy City Cabs Wally Rongonui also said it was not acceptable for taxis to be in disabled parks unless they were with disabled clients.

“That’s the law,” he said.

Source: Taranaki Daily News

Company Operation Profile – Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd.

Source: http://www.unep.org/climateneutral/Default.aspx?tabid=772

 

                        

 

Introduction

___________________________________________________

 

Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd (WCT) is a shareholder owned and operated company which was formed in 1993 with the amalgamation of the then two separately operated taxi companies -Wellington Taxis Coop Society and Black White & Grey Taxis.

 

Prior to this amalgamation both companies had been individually servicing the Greater Wellington Region for 63 years and have continued to service the Greater Wellington Area collectively for the last 15 years as Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd.

 

At WCT we pride ourselves on being a multicultural organisation with both male and female drivers which reflects the growing diversity of New Zealand. 

Many of our drivers have been with the Company for more than 25 years.

 

WCT currently operates 442 Business Class vehicles combined with 600 uniformed drivers.

 

WCT is able to offer a seamless nationwide taxi services through its 21 TaxiCharge partners.  Managing your taxi travel and spend has never been easier.

 

In July 2006 WCT undertook a massive project to re-brand the entire fleet from the heavily over used “Yellow and Black” to the all new “Blue, Green and White” livery. 

This eliminated a significant amount of customer confusion caused by the many look-a-like taxis operating in Wellington. 

Since the re-brand, customer complaints have been drastically reduced – largely due to customers not necessarily recognising which taxi company they were travelling with, but with the sure knowledge that it was not one of ours!

 

Customer compliments about our “new, clean, smart” look continue to be received daily.

 

 

The company has a shareholder elected Board of Governors of 6 directors.

 

The Board is supported by the following:

 

 

General Manager

Operations Manager

Fleet Manager

Marketing Manager

Accounts Manager

Call Centre Manager

Receptionist

Complaints administrator

Operations Room Staff (40)

Combined Finance Ltd (10)

Quality Assurance Officer (Call Centre)

 

 

 

Wellington Combined Taxis supplies a safe, clean, quick and efficient service to Wellingtonians.

 

WCT also has a dedicated rank at the Wellington International Airport, which is easily located.

 

WCT successfully services over 4,800 business accounts and has done so for many years. 

It is the economies of scope and scale gained with our fleet size, and use of technology in the Wellington region that enables us to deliver on-time service and maintain our position as the preferred cab company of choice

 

WCT taxis accept all major credit cards, vouchers, TaxiCharge cards and Total Mobility cards and have POS terminals installed to facilitate speedy and secure processing.

 

WCT is one of three A-Class shareholders in TaxiCharge, a company that holds the largest number of business accounts for taxi services in New Zealand, with over 13,000 business accounts.

 

WCT has continued to add to its network of exclusive ranks throughout the city.  This coverage, together with our large fleet size, gives us critical mass in the Central Business District and at the Airport – and allows us to successfully service our extensive customer base without relying on the public ranks set aside by the Wellington City Council.

 

Wellington Combined Taxis has recently purchased Co-op Shuttles as part of our strategy to be Wellingtons “Total Transport Solution”.

 

Combined Finance Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd.

 

 

Some Interesting Facts about WCT

___________________________________________________

 

Since amalgamation in 1993, WCT has continued to grow and today it is the largest taxi organisation in the lower North and South Islands.  WCT has 260 shareholders who manage a total of 442 shares and provides services to 442 taxis and 600 drivers.

 

 

The WCT fleet carries around 3,000,000 passengers and travels around

45,000 kilometres each year 

On average our Call Centre dispatches 1,800,000 jobs each year

Our average taxi response time from dispatch is less 4 minutes

 

 

 

Key Achievements to date

___________________________________________________

 

Exclusive rank access at Wellington International Airport

Preferred supplier of taxi services to more than 1500 Corporations

Preferred supplier of taxi services to most of the major Wellington Hotels

Suppliers of services to visiting Cruise Ships – including customised tours

Exclusive rank access at Te Papa, James Cook Hotel, Duxton Hotel, New World

Our Edteca contract for daily transport of 100 special needs children

Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd carries between 2.5 – 3 million customers a year

Electronic Raywood Data dispatch system with GPS

24/7 camera monitoring at Wellington Airport, Duxton & James Cook Hotels

 24/7 Call Centre

Robust Quality Control programme

In-house driver entry training programme  

A-Class TaxiCharge Partner 

Pin Number Systems

The WCT PIN number system is an additional payment option offered by WCT.

There are two types of PINs:

Cash Pin:    

By quoting an allocated Pin number when making your booking through our Call Centre, or directly with your driver when you get into one of our taxis, our customers are able to prompt any special services or rates that have been loaded on their customer profile.

At the end of the ride the driver is paid using any one of the following payment options

 

• Taxi chit
• TaxiCharge card
• Cash
• Credit card

Charge Pin:

By quoting an allocated Pin number when making your booking through our Call Centre, or directly with your driver when you get into one of our taxis, our customers are able to prompt any special services or rates that have been loaded on their customer profile.

When a charge Pin is used no payment is made at the end of the ride.  Instead, the passenger uses a credit account that has been authorised at TaxiCharge.

Charges for these rides are then billed directly to the client’s monthly invoice from Cardlink Systems, and include a computer-generated transaction number for each ride.

 

 

Key Competencies of WCT                                 

___________________________________________________

 

After supplying the Wellington Region with taxis services for over 75 years, WCT has consistently maintained its market presence in the transport arena.  We have done this by working smart as well as working hard, and are continually looking to improve our service to our customers.

 

WCT key competencies in relation to taxi services are:

 

• Billing & Information Systems

 

• Technology

 

• Fleet Structure

 

• Our people, our plans, our service

 

• Community Involvement

 

• Sustainability Initiatives

 

Billing & Information Systems

TaxiCharge

 

WCT is the only A-class shareholder of TaxiCharge in the Greater Wellington Region which means that WCT taxi operators can facilitate the wide range of voucher and / or innovative card solutions, as well as billing and reporting options that TaxiCharge can provide.

 

WCT and TaxiCharge will continue to develop innovative card, billing and reporting solutions for customers through their strategic partnership, as well as the growing network of TaxiCharge partners throughout New Zealand.

 

As well as the traditional paper taxi voucher solution, WCT and TaxiCharge can offer “paper less” solutions such as plastic cards, single use cards, stored value cards or the use of PIN numbers through the WCT telephone booking systems. 

 

TaxiCharge partners are available throughout New Zealand and WCT can make on-bookings for our customers to any of these TaxiCharge partners.

 

The TaxiCharge website is www.taxicharge.co.nz.

 

 

Technology

Raywood Data Dispatch System

 

Raywood’s sophisticated dispatch solution uses GPS satellites to track the location of our taxis and locate the closest vehicle to our customers, and complex algorithms to dispatch jobs efficiently over a private radio network. 

 

This innovative solution increases call centre efficiency, customer satisfaction with reduced waiting times and ultimately increases our service levels to our entire customer base.

 

Point of Sale Terminals

 

The point of sale terminals throughout the fleet currently process all credit cards, TaxiCharge cards and Total Mobility cards and provide secure and efficient transaction processing.

These terminals are monitored carefully and when commercially justified will be enhanced to be fully on-line.  On-line terminals would give the ability to process EFTPOS transactions, as well as give further opportunities for card innovations that could be unique to individual customers’ requirements.

Fleet Structure

 

WCT operates 2 distinct fleets – the Wellington Combined Taxi fleet with 442 vehicles, and the Co-op Shuttle Fleet with 40 vehicles.  This makes a total fleet of 482 vehicles, the largest in Wellington by far.

 

With the large number of dedicated inner city ranks and business accounts, WCT has a greater critical mass than any other taxi company in the CBD at any time to service the on-going requirements of our customers.

 

 

 

Shuttles

 

 

Our Shuttle fleet is dedicated to airport transfers, corporate transfers, sports events, tours and sight seeing and can work with all signage removed.  Shuttles carry trailers to accommodate large quantities of luggage, which is very helpful in moving groups together.

 

Our People, Our Plans, Our Service

WCT uses a 3-pronged strategy to ensure we are able to consistently deliver quality transport with our people, our plans and our service.

 

Our People

We have developed our decision making structures with a clear distinction between management and governance.

WCT offers a wide range of personal and professional development for staff. 

We aim to continually build on the competence of our people both employees and contractors through training programme such as

 

• EMA
• Chamber of Commerce
• Institute of Directors, and
• NZ Institute of Management

 

 

 

WCT drivers are required to undergo extensive initial training and on going training to ensure they understand the culture of the company. 

 

Our “Open Door” policy encourages staff to approach with any ideas or suggestions that may enhance the Company’s development.

 

We encourage our staff and Drivers to participate in the many team building programmes we facilitate including BBQs, private movie screenings, breakfasts, golf days and social outings.

 

WCT expects its drivers to maintain exceptional personal hygiene standards and to operate a high standard vehicle that is regularly service.

 

 

Being a member of Wellington Combined Taxis has shown to be not just a job but more so a profession and a lifestyle choice.

The experience within the fleet ranges from one week to 50 years.

 

Our Call Centre

 

Both the taxi call centre and the shuttle control room are situated in the Company’s Head quarters in Adelaide Road Newtown. Both centres make use of modern technologies aiming to service the needs and wishes of our customer.

 

We take around 6,000 calls a day with 24 hour, 7 day a week cover. We always have 3 staff on duty in the taxi call centre and 1 in the shuttle call centre.

 

Staff development is a priority for the Company’s Manager.

 

Our Plans

Constantly moving forward

 

At WCT we use some of the latest data dispatch systems incorporating global positioning (GPS) technology.  We also have a wireless monitoring service for some of our dedicated taxi stands which is monitored 24 hours 7 days a week. 

We are constantly reviewing technology applications that will enable us to deliver smarter service to our customers.  Some of this research includes –

 

BookSmart – The Automated Pin Number System

 

Designed to enhance our existing WCT PIN SYSTEM, this feature adds yet another alternative to the use of paper taxi vouchers that is secure, fast and efficient, and is called “BookSmart”.  BookSmart transactions would still be processed through the customer’s account, so no accounting information would be foregone, in fact these electronic transactions would be processed much faster than the paper ones. 

 

Customers can call on our Booksmart number to facilitate our BookSmart system. 

This system invites you to enter your a PIN number via the telephone keypad. 

This unique PIN number will have been pre-determined and will generate a job to be dispatched with all the required pre-determined details as to location for the pick up, the destination, the fare to be charged, the cost centre to be charged, the account number to be charged and any other details required. 

This system is most useful for regular trips and will enable a taxi to be ordered in approximately 10 seconds.

As the customers account number would be charged, there would be no necessity to use a paper voucher and no security issues with the loss or fraudulent use of vouchers.

 

Our Service

 

Improve our existing management systems and building on our existing risk assessments and Quality Control/Compliance programmes is assisted by –

• NZQA qualified workplace assessors accreditation
• Regular internal audits to maintain legislative compliance
• Continually reviewing of best-fit Key Perfomance Indicators based on customer and driver feedback and Quarterly Review meetings with Key Account customers
• Continually building on our existing on-going contracts with business customers and Industry partners by using best practice organisation techniques
• Using enhanced safety and security measures

 

 

Our electronic data capabilities include:

• Raywood Data Dispatch System
• POS Terminals in every car for secure transactions

• On-line bookings facilities
• Customer recognition database (with protocols around the security of customer information)

 

 

Community Involvement

Mail Runs

Our fleet often work in conjunction with NZ Post postal delivery staff delivering over flow mail bags.

This is a vital link in insuring that the general public’s mail is delivered on time every day.

 

Blood deliveries

WCT plays an important part in maintaining the integrity of the NZ Blood Services blood supply. The Company and its Drivers take on the responsibility of transporting on a daily basis, blood products between the various Hospitals within the Wellington region as well as further a field. This insures that blood products are available to the public in life or death situations.

 

School runs­

On a daily basis, WCT transports more than 200 children to and from school.  Some of these children have highly complex special needs and the Drivers are trained how to cope with them in different situations.  A high level of trust and responsibility is placed on the Drivers that are undertaking this work and all persons involved take these responsibilities very seriously.

 

Total mobility

WCT has a fleet of specially equipped taxi vans.  These are utilised in the transport of wheel chair bound people and others who have specific transport requirements.  Many of our other taxis in the fleet are also involved in transporting people with special needs. 

Our taxi drivers are often known to go out of their way to support and assist those who have difficulty in supporting themselves in their day to day activities.

 

Ongoing environmental consideration

WCT is very aware of its carbon footprints through the use of combustion engines and is now NZ’s 1^st carboNZero Cert TM certified taxi service!

 

The majority of the Company’s current and future vehicles are evaluated against rigid fuel efficiency guidelines.

 

Sponsorship and Supporting local events

WCT is the preferred supplier of The NZI 7s, WOW, Cuba St Carnival, Wellington Phoenix, NZSO, Film Festivals, School Festivals and Art Festivals.

 

WCT sponsors a wide range of local organisations including

 

• Westpac Trust Flight for Life
• Mary Potter Hospice

• Ronald MacDonald House
• Child Safety Awareness Academy
• Silverstream School Mini Galas
• Miramar, Seatoun, Hataitai, The Park and Island Bay Bowling clubs
• Wellington Soccer Club

 

 

 

 

We have a great sense of pride in being able to be a part of these organisations and help give back where ever we can.

 

 

 

 

Co-op Shuttles Company Profile

 

 

 

Wellington Combined Taxis has recently purchased Co-op Shuttles Wellington Limited. This purchase fits into our “Total Transport Provider” stratagy for the Wellington area.

 

Co-operative Shuttles was established in 1989 to provide an alternative form of transportation following the Government decision to de-regulate the passenger transport industry as it affected the taxi industry.  

 

Based on the concept established in the USA in the 1980’s, approval was given to provide transport for individuals or groups based on the principle of using specially outfitted 10 seater mini-coaches. Government approval to establish this service was granted in 1987 to operate to/from major transport hubs, being airports, bus terminals, railway stations – ferry terminals and major accomodation providers. This service is based on either a shared ride principle or exclusive use of the vehicle and enables organisations to provide a cost effective service to groups both large and small.

 

 

Since its inception Co-op Shuttles has developed an extensive array of services to suit the varying requirements of clientelle and we currently offer the following services:

 

• A locating service at Airports/Railway Stations/Ferry Terminals for incoming clients
• A transport co-ordination service whereby Co-Op Shuttles undertakes the role as the organisations representative, to ensure all passengers are located and assembled to enable cost effectiveness on behalf of the organisation. This also includes the organisation of transfers within the city while groups are in residence for various events or activities.
• A twenty four hour staffed operation to ensure immediate action for clients requirements.
• An accounting system whereby Co-op Shuttles will provide monthly billing, including any requirements of order numbers or  cost centres as requested by the client.
• Individual numbered voucher books with the Clients code pre-stamped provided to clients which are only available for use on Co-op Shuttle vehicles. This ensures that our clients utilise our serbvice while travelling on account provided solely for use in a Co-op vehicle.
• Co-op Shuttles service is provided on a fixed cost basis, based on a fare schedule registered with LTSA and Local Regional Councils, therefore avoiding price variations due to traffic and road conditions.  This enables accurate budgeting on behalf of clients, especially when large meeting groups are assembled.

CO-OPERATIVE SHUTTLES

Fully owned subsideray of Wellington Combined Taxis, with up to 40 vans and the support of over 442 taxi’s all transport requirements can be catered for.

 

Location: 150 Adelaide Road, Newtown WELLINGTON

Telephone: 387-8787

Fax: 387-8789

Email: shuttles@xtra.co.nz

 

 

Manager: Grant Bosher

 

Fleet:  up to 40 Luxury Mini Vans (minimum seating 10) complete with seat belts.

 

Some Major Organisations Currently being Serviced by Co-Op Shuttles:

 

• Qantas Airways Flight Crews
• Air New Zealand Flight Crews
• Freedom Air Flight Crews
• Pacific Blue Airline Crews
• Tranzrail Ferry Services
• Victoria University Overseas Student Intakes
• Williment World Travel (Rugby Sports Tours)
• Wellington Cricket, NZ Rugby and NZ Rugby Academy
• NZQA (Staff Conferences)
• Scots College/Marsden College/Queen Margrets
• Ministry of Education and other various Government Departments
• Post Primary Teachers Association
• ANZ / National Bank Staff Tranfers
• Stagecoach Staff Transfers
• Hotel Intercontinental Staff Transfers
• Capital Coast Health Dialysis Patient
• NZ Police and The Royal New Zealand Police College
• Dept of Corrections Staff Training
• Inland Revenue
• Govt3

           

This list keeps growing, due to our reputation as a company that offers an efficient and courteous customer service.

Wellington Combined Taxis shareholders request special general meeting to remove current board members.

Below is a letter sent to shareholders of Wellington Combined Taxis from their board:

15 June 2009

The Shareholders Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd

Wellington

Re — Petition dated 1 June 2009 suggesting the Board of WCT have breached the company constitution regarding our ‘Franchise Fleet’ and has a petition signed by 26 shareholders requisitioning the company to hold a ‘special general meeting.’ The petition has 7 resolutions and asks for the removal of all of the current board members.

Dear Shareholders

Recently many of you will have been approached by members of our company who have alleged that your current Board has breached the ‘company constitution’ by allowing a franchise fleet to operate within the company without seeking a special resolution from our 2008 AGM that, they argue, requires a 75% majority vote to be carried. This assertion is incorrect.

Firstly please find attached a copy of the minutes recorded by our company solicitors Buddle Findlay that relates to the proposed Franchise fleet as discussed at the AGM Aug 2008.

The Board has received its legal opinion from our solicitors regarding the commencement of the franchise vehicles. Our Board minutes indicated that the maximum number of vehicles was between 10/20, this in fact has been recorded incorrectly, as discussed at our AGM the maximum number was set at 10 not 20.

Also please find attached an explanation from our solicitors explaining the legality of being to operate the Franchise vehicles without reguiring a special resolution with a 75% majority acceptance.

Franchise Vehicle Numbers (Company Contracts)

The current Franchise Vehicles numbers tend to vary week by week has operated at peak a maximum of 7 vehicles and as low as 2 vehicles in any given week; Management has calculated that there have been 3.34 franchise lease vehicles on average operated weekly since 22nd October 2008. The lease revenue earned from these franchise vehicles is paid directly to Wellington Combined Taxis Ltd.

Your current Board is well aware of the severe current recession that has affected all of our members, and I would like to say that every Board member is very focussed on this issue and is working very hard to gain every opportunity to maximize work for all members of our company. This clearly is the worst recession that I can recall in all my 30 odd year within our industry.

How will the Franchise Vehicles have an effect on your Incomes?

(a) Out of our fleet of 442 vehicles with an average additional 3.34 vehicles works out to be 0.75% increase in our fleet size assuming they are all working?

(b) This may at a worst case scenario affect you by less that 1% of your income or disadvantage you by less than I x job in excess of 8 days. If you are earning $300.00 per day, this will equate to less than $3.00.

So what are the benefits of having these Franchise Vehicles to our Company?

(a) Well we are all well aware of what the current share price of a WCT share is valued at. We are also well aware that we have many investors who contribute greatly to WCT and help to determine the current share value that affect all of our Shareholders.

(b) This Franchise program offers investors a level of security by being able to provide any potential investor with small pool of lease’s that will encourage them to invest in WCT and knowing that their investment is able to generate income immediately and will help to attract further investment into WCT in order to maintain our share value for the benefit of all our shareholders.

(c) Any new franchisee must have an Eco friendly vehicle in order to join, thus helping reduce our carbon footprint which saves shareholder expenditure by way of reducing our Carbon Neutral Offsetting funding.

(d) When approached by suitable opposition taxi candidates we need to provide some certainty that will encourage them to join WCT by being able to provide immediate employment. It is not reasonable to suggest to potential candidates that they should come and join WCT and then inform them that we do not have a position available in our company for them.

(e) These Franchisees are transferred into a WCT lease position as soon as one is available.

(f)  This also offers the Company a chance to evaluate the character of these persons prior to becoming permanent members of our Company.

I note that Joe McMillan, in his newsletter to (selected) shareholders, admits that he did not confirm the figures? And that his projected income figures are factually and totally WRONG! In our opinion.

Petition suqqests Removal of all Board Members

The petition is suggesting that because of the breach constitution that all current Board members should be removed. Well that decision is always left in the hands of our Shareholders, you know at times we all forget and sometimes just take for granted all the positive initiatives that occur in the company and how some tend to just focus on negative and often nonexistent issues only and disregard all the positive developments that the Board has accomplished.

And when the tough times occur like we are now experiencing with the severe downturn in the economy, others come along with their own political agenda and prophecies’ and exaggerate any perceived faults (factual or not) and of how they can always things so much better; and of course these people never want to acknowledge the good work of their Board simply because it does not fit with their own political agenda.

Attached please find a list of some of the current Board’s achievements over the previous 6 years in office, and can I say that every Board member has worked together extremely diligently for the sake of all of our members, and this is why we believe we have been able to achieve so much together. Every Board member has proven themselves to be very conservative with their expenditure of Shareholders funds. As mentioned before we are fully aware of the downturn in our economy and we must all understand that there are no ‘magic bullet’ solutions to these times, however we have to make every effort to provide the best service our customers to avoid any slippage. The Board is also currently looking at ways to reduce expenditure as quickly as it can without affecting our productivity or professionalism.

The taxi industry always tends to get hit very hard during any downturn in the economy so it is no time for coups, our focus must be on retaining our client base by providing top class service, and if we all do this we will prosper.

The Board recognises that with all of the world’s publicity surrounding greenhouse gas emissions. This has been paramount in the minds of your current Board for a long time and we have taken decisive action by investing in our ‘Carbon Zero’ initiative that makes this company, making our Company the first and only taxi service in New Zealand with this service and possibly the world, to become carbon zero TM certified. This we believe, and are sure with the right marketing, will give us a huge market advantage for those who are genuinely passionate and concerned about environmental issues, there are many of these people within central and local Government as well as the corporate and the private sector business.

Thanks to so many Shareholders who have endorsed, encouraged and acknowledged our achievements so far, we look forward to serving you as best we are able to in the future with your approval.

Regards

John McDonald (Chairman)

For and Behalf of all Wellington Combined Ltd Members of the Board.

A reminder of some of the things this Board has actually achieved thus far

Some of your Boards achievements during the previous six years’.

This Board collectively have been around for the last six years, so for those who were not here for that time period or for those who may have conveniently forgotten I would like to outline some of the Boards achievements.

(a) When we first arrived on the Board we had cash flow problems — we were struggling to pay our bills — The Board got to grips with this and dramatically reduced expenditure.

(b)   The previous Board’s Directors fees were in the vicinity of $400,000 we are currently spending between annually on Directors Fees.

(c) Revived Taxi-Charge.

(d) The Share value when we arrived was between; $40,000 – $42,000 per share currently the average prices are currently selling at between; $75,000 – $80,000.

(e) Members were constantly complaining about the lost contacts (jobs) on their Raywood System, this Board invested in a new communications on Mt Victoria which has eliminated about 80% of our lost contacts (jobs), at a cost about $75,000. (No additional cost on our levies).

(f) Turned the company from loss into profit.

(g) Implemented a monthly newsletter to all members to ensure members are kept up to date (previous Board sent out a newsletter at odd intervals).

(h) Reviewed and changed company rule book to lift standards in our fleet.

(i)  Negotiated an attractive company cell phone deal with Telecom for all members.

(j)  Members were paying out of their own pockets for the cost of running the in car Smart-Taxi units; this Board changed all this to have our customers cover these costs and not our members.

(k) Complete re-branding to our ‘blue’ from the previous ‘yellow & black’ livery, which proved to be a huge success at no additional levy costs to our members.

(I) Gained the Te Papa dedicated taxi stand for our members.

(m)         Added the $ 1-00 surcharge from fare gained from our dedicated stands.

(n) Changed attitudes in Combined Finance Ltd when dealing with our members, (friendlier attitudes).

(o) Introduced EFT-Pos that have attracted more customers at no additional costs to our members.

(p) Introduced Call Centre Manager (Kevin Dorgan) part of our progression to improve the call centre productivity.

(q) Implemented comprehensive training program to lift standards in fleet, to retain and gain additional customers.

(r) Purchased the Building (146 — 148 Adelaide Rd) which is now freehold.

(s) Paid out two tax free dividends to Shareholders (dividends had never been paid out previously by any previous Board).

(t) Introduced the cab /flag program as part of marketing program and to give members additional income.

(u) Introduced our ‘Carbon ZeroTM program’ as part of our marketing framework and look to gain further business from this.(No additional levy costs to our members).

(v) Removed the Shareholder who was working to set up an opposition taxi organisation.

(w)         Include WCT logos on TaxiCharge service orders for the Wellington Region.

(x) Designed and manufactured Log Book holders to include LTNZ information that will reduce infringement notices for our members

(y) The Board in conjunction with the NZ Taxi Federation has persuaded the Wellington City Council to initiate a trial allowing taxis access the of some Bus Lanes in Wellington, with the view to gaining permanent acceptance from WCC and the possibility of having access extended to other Bus Lanes.

(z) Spruced up our current premises to make our Company image more professional.

Weed it out, fare comparisons from Green Cabs NZ web site.

Wellington Fare Comparisons

Wellington Fare Comparisons
	Short Fare – Railway Station to Oriental Parade	Medium Fare – Terrace to Airport	Long Fare – Pukerua Bay to Airport	Medium/Long Fare – Lower Hutt to Airport
Distance	3.4kms	8.2kms	36.4kms	15.5kms
Green Cabs	$13.60	$27.20	$99.30	$46.25
Capital Taxis	$13.62	$28.66	$109.22	$49.90
Wellington Combined Taxis	$14.65	$29.65	$109.00	$50.63
Wellington Amalgamated Taxis	$14.75	$30.35	$110.30	$51.63
Gold & Black	$14.86	$30.78	$114.56	$52.95
Status Taxis	$15.02	$30.46	$111.42	$51.90
Micro Cabs	$15.76	$32.08	$116.26	$54.45
Wellington Supreme Taxis	$15.76	$32.08	$116.26	$54.45
Harbour City Taxis	$15.76	$32.08	$116.26	$54.45
Corporate Cabs	$17.69	$33.37	$115.74	$55.18
Kiwi Cabs	$16.03	$32.69	$118.38	$55.48
Wellington Ace Taxis	$16.10	$32.90	$119.90	$56.00
Wellington Taxi 2005	$16.44	$33.72	$123.54	$57.55
Dial A Cab Wellington NZ	$16.61	$34.13	$125.36	$58.33
Wellington Star Taxis	$17.72	$36.56	$132.62	$62.15
President	$18.32	$37.76	$134.42	$63.65

 

*Fares based on cash payment and maximum fare displayed on fare schedule. Does not take into account any discounts that may be offered by individual taxi companies.

Fare Comparison
Click the location below to compare Greencabs prices with other companies.

Christchurch Fare Comparisons
	Short Fare Cathedral Square – Papanui Rd	Medium Fare Cathedral Square – Airport	Medium/Long Fare New Brighton – Airport	Long Fare Rangiora – Airport
Distance	3.1	10.4	17.9	28.1
Green Cabs	$10.95	$29.76	$49.07	$75.37
Gold Band	$11.88	$33.16	$55.00	$84.76
Blue Star	$11.88	$33.16	$55.00	$84.76
Corporate Cabs	$14.59	$36.60	$59.19	$89.97
*Fares based on cash payment and maximum fare displayed on fare schedule. Does not take into account any discounts that may be offered by individual taxi companies.

 

 

Source

www.greencabs.co.nz

NZTAXIBLOG.

Green Cabs New Zealand breaks new ground with the launch of its new web site.

www.greencabs.co.nz

 

NZ TAXIBLOG.

Laws to prevent fraud wanted.

A government decision to not regulate New Zealand’s franchise industry leaves franchisees vulnerable to deception and fraud, an Auckland University academic says.

Commerce Minister Simon Power said an Economic Development Ministry review of the industry after allegations of fraud found franchisees were adequately protected by business law and voluntary self-regulation by the Franchise Association of New Zealand.

But University of Auckland Business School senior lecturer Gehan Gunasekara said existing law did little to protect or provide remedy for deceived franchisees, and not all franchises were members of the association.

Franchisors were not required to disclose any information about the condition of a business or its prospects to potential franchisees and were not required to justify any predictions they made.

Many contracts included clauses that stated the franchisee was relying on his or her own judgment and had had recourse to legal advice, effectively absolving the franchisor of liability, he said. “It effectively says franchisees go in with their eyes wide open but they don’t.”

A study by the business school revealed that over a 20-year period, 30 per cent of court cases about the purchase of a business were brought by franchisees.

In one of the most well-known cases, former Green Acres master franchisee Keith Lapham is alleged to have deceived 172 people into paying $3.5 million for non-existent Green Acres sub-franchises. Mr Gunasekara said that in one recent case, the claimant had bought a regional master franchise from an Australian business but was not told the only other regional master franchise in New Zealand had not sold a franchise in years.

The court ruled the defendant had a reasonable basis for his predictions that the franchise would succeed in New Zealand and was therefore not liable for deceptive or misleading conduct.

Mr Gunasekara said the Government’s decision not to regulate was “extremely disappointing”.

Franchise Association executive director Graham Billings said the organisation favoured self-regulation.

“Our primary purpose is to encourage people to become members … and to abide by our voluntary code of practice.”

Source: NZPA

About – Green Cabs New Zealand.

Source: http://www.unep.org/climateneutral/Default.aspx?tabid=246

 

About

Green Cabs is a nationwide environmentally friendly taxi company in New Zealand.
Launched in November 2007, the company established a presence in the country’s three
largest cities within six months.

Green Cabs plants trees to offset CO₂ emissions through our partner Trees for the Future is a non profit organization that focuses on agroforestry, with programmes in around 30 developing countries. Green Cabs decided to support and promote this initiative because of the benefits it offers over and above carbon credit programmes. These include:

• Providing villagers in developing countries with an income
• Providing access to produce that can be used for food, shelter and medicine
• Facilitating natural native bush regeneration
• Providing a habitat for native flora and fauna
• Re-establishing underground aquifers
• Reversing desertification that is taking hold in many areas, especially those close
  to the equator

 

Strategy

Green Cabs has an informal philosophy of doing things on the basis that ‘It’s the right thing to do’ and that doing so feels good.

As a start-up company, Green Cabs had the luxury of being able to set up processes and relationships with suppliers with sustainability and emission reduction at the forefront of its decision making. That said, even the Prius which forms its fleet isn’t a zero emission vehicle.

As a company Green Cabs wants to make a difference and has purposely steered away from purchasing carbon credits. One of the main reasons for this is very simple, carbon credits are traditionally issued at the completion of a project. The act of purchasing such carbon credits doesn’t add anything towards helping the environment. Paying to plant trees that haven’t yet been planted on the other hand does. Besides there will be plenty of other companies and individuals lining up to buy carbon credits.

So Green Cabs established a relationship with Trees for the Future to plant for the planet and absorb some of its emissions.

Although CO₂ absorption is important, Trees for the Future also focuses on agroforestry and its benefits. Teaching villagers agroforestry practices results in a programme that is sustainable and gives a number of additional benefits over and above CO₂ absorption such as.

• Re-establishing underground aquifers by directing rain to them through the trees root systems
• Facilitating native bush regeneration
• Providing a habitat for flora and fauna
• Providing villagers with an income they might not have otherwise
  had
• Providing plants and trees that can be used as a source of
  food and medicine

 

So far, Green Cabs has planted 20,000 trees to offset projected emissions and has a goal of planting 100,000 by the end of 2008. We would like to have planted 1 million trees through Trees for the Future in five years time.

An important part of the way Green Cabs do things is to take responsibility for emissions up front. The company forecasts likely emissions for the next year based on the number of vehicles and how operations are expanding. The company regularly recalculates its emissions for a full year and ensures they have enough trees being planted to cover their projections. This way they will always have more
offsets than emissions.

If more emissions are needed they are organized before they are required. The company is navigating through the ISO 14064 requirements with the aim of becoming certified later this year.

• Green Cabs strategy is to grow in the three main centres and lead the way with what
  it really means to be environmentally friendly and to do so from a largely moral
  standpoint as opposed to commercial.
• Green Cabs aims to establish itself as the cab company of choice for both customers
  and drivers, not only on the environmental side but with the service it provides
  and the environment its drivers have to work in. A unfortunate culture exists in
  the taxi industry of company first, customer second and drivers a distant third.
  Green Cabs’ goal is to change this to customer first, driver second and company
  third. The same ethics that exist in the company’s approach to environmental responsibility
  must also exist in its relationship with drivers and customers.
• Green Cabs aims to force change and responsibility onto an industry that has for
  a long time been devoid of ethics when it comes to both its environmental impact
  and its approach to driver relations.