Freedom denied: taxi firm put off road

Taxi industry watchdog the New Zealand Transport Agency has put the brakes on Hamilton's Freedom Cabs over safety concerns which include bald tyres and faulty steering, suspension and brakes.

NZTA revoked Freedom Cabs' operating licence at 5pm on Thursday, leaving out of work its 15 drivers, 12 who have moved to rival firm The Cab Company.

NZTA regional director Harry Wilson said its main concern was public safety after all Freedom Cabs' vehicles failed to pass a fitness inspection in May.

It also had concerns about drivers working outside rostered hours, vehicles being incorrectly regulated, log books being left incomplete and non-compliance with taxi company rules and legislation.

The owner of Enderley-based The Cab Company, Ngaire Rameka, said all the ex-Freedom Cab vehicles passed their Certificate of Fitness when they moved over to the firm, which now has 25 taxis.

Freedom Cabs said the decision was disappointing and it was deciding whether to appeal.

Freedom Cabs lawyer Scott McKenna said the company was in a difficult situation because it had no current revenue. Under the land transport legislation, taxi firms cannot keep running during the appeal process.

Mr Wilson said the company had failed to improve their safety standards to comply, despite being given support over a six-month period to do this.

Freedom Cabs, which employed a large number of Somalian immigrants, had earlier blamed cultural differences for failing to comply with some of NZTA's rules and said it had been targeted by the organisation.

- © Fairfax NZ News