Sep 23, 2003
The Taxi Federation wants the industry to be re-regulated to restrict the number of cabs and drivers allowed on the roads.
The call came at the federation’s annual conference in Invercargill.
Executive director Tim Reddish says oversupply has led to some operators overcharging to try and survive.
He says the problems could be minimised by issuing taxi licences based on population so there is not an oversupply of cabs.
But Transport Minister Paul Swain says he will not be re-regulating the industry despite the plea.
Swain says demand, not the government, will determine how many taxis are on the road.
Swain says criminal background checks for drivers and making it an offence to run off without paying a fare is as far as the government needs to go.
