History

On September 7, 1929 a certification of membership was granted by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies to 15 Christchurch Taxi proprietors and Blue Star Taxis became a reality.

At the start, the society operated with only owner-drivers but on 19 June 1930 a decision was made to employ eight night drivers. Right through to today Blue Star Taxis is basically an owner-driver organisation. A member can only own one share in the Society.

Although the original fleet comprised 15 vehicles, by 1949 the number had increased to 85. At present there are 225 shares in the society.

Blue Star Taxis originally functioned as an Incorporated Society and this was later changed to an Industrial and Provident Society in order to incorporate the taxi operations with the Service Station. The Society operates for the overall benefit of the Members, and Members fund the administration and the cost of operating the phoneroom by being levied a monthly subscription.

In 1947, the Society was the first taxi organisation to introduce the use of two-way radios in the South Island. Later, taximeters made their appearance and these were imported from Sweden. IN 1948, the Society operated not only its taxi business but provided the first 24 hours per day public petrol pumps in Christchurch.

With deregulation of the taxi industry on 1 November 1989, the Society has diversified and sough new avenues of involvement. Today, the Society provides taxi services to a large number of contract customers including Schools, Mail Deliveries, Airlines, Total Mobility, the Chirstchurch City Council and other businesses.

We have also expanded our services from the traditional car to include Executive Cars, Minibuses and Wheelchair Vans.

Fleet image a public perception of the Society are very important and strict standards are applied to vehicles and owners/drivers.

Over the seventy-five years that the Society has operated it has earned a reputation for quality service and reliability. In today's competitive environment, maintaining and improving those standards is absolytely vital as there are few restrictions to prevent competitors from entering the market.