GREEN CABS

What GREEN CABS does

Green Cabs is a privately held New Zealand taxi service operating a hybrid and electric vehicle fleet across Queenstown and Wanaka in the South Island's Southern Lakes region. The company provides on-demand and pre-booked point-to-point transport, airport transfers, ski field transfers, private tours, and corporate travel, with specialized offerings including female-only drivers and discreet unbranded vehicles for high-profile customers. It serves three primary segments: tourists and visitors (the dominant demand driver), business/corporate accounts, and local residents, with 24/7 coverage including weekends and public holidays. The business is owned by Kirsty Barclays, who acquired Green Cabs in 2022 and also founded Wanaka Transfers & Tours the same year, managing both as a coordinated Southern Lakes portfolio; she is described as one of few female owners in the New Zealand transport industry.

The company's operations are built on the third-party iCabbi booking and dispatch platform, which provides the passenger-facing iOS and Android app, an approved digital meter system compliant with New Zealand transport regulations, in-vehicle driver devices for trip and fare management, and a web-based booking portal. Fleet vehicles are equipped with security cameras, GPS tracking, and panic alarm systems for safety. Green Cabs also invests in modern dispatch systems that reduce fuel use and support route optimization. There is no proprietary technology stack; the differentiation sits in the operational layer (fleet composition, ESG positioning, local knowledge, and customer service discipline including systematic review of driver ratings) rather than in underlying software.

Green Cabs generates revenue primarily through metered taxi fares under a transaction-based model, with fixed fare quotes available for airport transfers and longer journeys. Payment is accepted via cash, EFTPOS, major credit cards, and automatic in-app card charging through iCabbi. Business account customers receive monthly invoicing on a subscription-style billing arrangement. Marketing is concentrated on the company's own website (greencabs.co.nz), the mobile app, a Facebook presence (GreenCabsNZ), and word-of-mouth referrals; pricing is not publicly disclosed but is positioned as "frequently lower" than competitors owing to lower fuel and maintenance costs from the hybrid/EV fleet.

Name

GREEN CABS

Legal name

Green Cabs

Website

https://greencabs.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Green Cabs is a New Zealand taxi service operating a hybrid and electric fleet in Queenstown and Wanaka, serving tourists, corporate accounts, and locals via the iCabbi app-based booking platform under owner Kirsty Barclay.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Taxi Services

NAICS

Taxi and Ridesharing Services (485310), Taxi and Limousine Service (4853), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Taxi Fleet Owners & Medallion/Permit Operators (TLAFAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dispatch / Call Center Taxi Services (THADAEAB), E-Hailing Taxi Aggregators (Licensed Taxi Dispatch Platforms) (THADADAC)

Keywords

• Taxi services
• Airport transfers
• Ground transportation
• Hybrid electric fleet
• Passenger transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Athol

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Taxi Ride Revenue: Green Cabs generates revenue through metered taxi fares for point-to-point transportation services. Fares are calculated using the iCabbi digital meter system in compliance with New Zealand transport regulations. The company offers both metered rides and fixed fare quotes for certain trips such as airport transfers or longer journeys. Multiple payment methods are accepted including cash, EFTPOS, major credit cards, and automatic card charging through the app.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Green Cabs operates a passenger taxi and ground transportation service in Queenstown and Wanaka, New Zealand, using a hybrid and electric vehicle fleet. It provides metered point-to-point taxi rides along with specialized bookings such as airport transfers, ski field transfers, private tours, and female-only driver services, dispatched via the iCabbi platform through its mobile app, phone, and website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Cabs Taxi Service Metered, on-demand passenger taxi rides delivered across Queenstown and Wanaka by Green Cabs drivers using a hybrid and electric vehicle fleet. Available 24/7 to individual passengers booking via app, phone, or website.
• Airport Transfer Service Pre-booked transport between Queenstown or Wanaka airports and traveler destinations, priced at fixed quotes rather than metered fares, targeting arriving and departing airline passengers.
• Ski Field Transfer Service Pre-arranged taxi transfers between town centers and nearby ski fields, allowing skiers and snowboarders to avoid driving in winter conditions.
• Private Tour Bookings Hire of a Green Cabs vehicle and driver for private sightseeing tours of the Queenstown and Wanaka region, tailored to visitor itineraries rather than fixed routes.
• Female-Only Driver Service Option for passengers to specifically request a female Green Cabs driver for their taxi ride, providing additional comfort and choice for riders who prefer it.
• Green Cabs Mobile App Smartphone application for booking Green Cabs rides, viewing vehicle location, receiving driver details, and paying digitally, powered by the iCabbi dispatch system.
• Business Account Services Corporate taxi account program under which hundreds of Kiwi businesses book Green Cabs rides for staff, clients, and visitors and receive consolidated monthly invoicing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced emissions and fuel costs through hybrid/EV fleet adoption

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• iCabbicoreTechnology or IntegrationGreen Cabs operates on the iCabbi booking and dispatch platform, which provides the passenger app for ride booking and real-time driver tracking, the in-vehicle driver devices for trip management and digital fare metering, and the web-based booking system (webbooker.icabbi.com). The iCabbi digital meter system is approved for compliance with New Zealand transport regulations. This is a fundamental operational technology partnership enabling Green Cabs' core service delivery.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Uber (New Zealand operations): Global rideshare platform with significant presence across New Zealand including Queenstown. While it operates a different driver-economy model, it competes directly with Green Cabs for on-demand tourist rides and airport transfers at app-based pricing.

Emerging players

• Green Tomato Cars (Australia): Australian eco-friendly taxi and private-car service built around hybrid/EV vehicles. Directly comparable positioning to Green Cabs on sustainability-led differentiation, though operating in a different geography (Sydney/Melbourne).

Regional players

• Wellington Combined Taxis: A large Wellington-region taxi cooperative with app-based booking and corporate accounts. Comparable on operating model (licensed taxi fleet + dispatch platform + business accounts) though operating in a different NZ region.
• Swan Taxis New Zealand: A Christchurch-based taxi operator offering metered rides, airport transfers, and corporate accounts. Comparable to Green Cabs on taxi operating model and corporate-channel offering, though focused on Canterbury rather than Southern Lakes.

Direct peers

• Corporate Cabs New Zealand: New Zealand taxi operator with multi-city presence offering corporate accounts, metered rides, and airport transfers. Comparable business model, customer mix (corporate + consumer), and app-based booking structure to Green Cabs.
• Blue Bubble Taxis: A Queenstown-based taxi and shuttle operator offering airport transfers and tours in the Southern Lakes region. Competes head-to-head with Green Cabs on tourist, ski-transfer, and Wanaka corridor services.
• SuperShuttle New Zealand: New Zealand-wide airport-transfer and shuttle operator with significant Queenstown presence. Comparable on airport-transfer pricing, fleet operation, and corporate-account offerings to Green Cabs' transfer business.
• Queenstown Taxis (formerly Corporate Cabs Queenstown): The incumbent licensed taxi operator serving Queenstown and the broader Southern Lakes region with a metered taxi fleet. Directly competes with Green Cabs for tourist, airport-transfer, and local rides in the same core geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GreenCabsNZ
• Xx.com/greencabsnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-cabs-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GREEN CABS