There are calls for tougher controls on rideshare drivers as the number of complaints from passengers continues to rise.
Data obtained by 1News shows 465 complaints were made against taxi and rideshare drivers between January 2024 and March 14, 2026.
That includes 161 complaints in 2024, 249 in 2025 and 53 in the first three-and-a-half months of this year.
The most serious complaints include allegations of sexual assault, alongside claims of overcharging and other inappropriate driver behaviour.
The majority of complaints involved rideshare companies.
Small Passenger Service Association manager Warren Quirke said the figures were likely only a fraction of the incidents occurring.
"I imagine that there's a lot of complaints that don't get made. A lot of incidents that aren't being recorded," he said.
"Sexual assault is one thing that people are often reluctant to report."
Quirk said he was particularly concerned about an increase in complaints of a sexual nature involving drivers in the independent taxi sector over the past two years.
Industry advocates say tighter regulation is needed to improve passenger safety and rebuild trust.
"We need more regulation. We're an industry body. We don't want to see regulation, but we want to see fit-for-purpose regulation," Quirke said.
He said mandatory cameras could be one place to start.
"In the short term, there are some things that should be done. Cameras would be a great start."
Quirke said the current system of self-regulation was not working.
"We need to move back to a system where we have effective oversight."
But the New Zealand Transport Agency says the current regulatory framework remains fit for purpose.
NZTA director of land transport Mike Hargreaves said complaints were an important part of its intelligence when deciding where to focus enforcement.
"We take any complaints seriously, certainly when they concern passenger safety," he said.
But he said the figures needed to be considered alongside the millions of taxi and rideshare trips taken each year.
"There is no silver bullet when it comes to responding to complaints," Hargreaves said.
"It comes down to their oversight mechanisms, it comes down to the decisions that are made to bring drivers into the system, it comes down to the responsibility of drivers to actually to operate responsibly as well."
Uber responds
Uber, the country's largest rideshare operator, said safety was its top priority and passengers had several ways to report incidents through its app.
"We work hard to provide a positive experience and deliver the service Kiwis expect of us. When concerns are raised we take them seriously. We want people to feel safe and supported when using our app, which is why we have processes in place to respond appropriately based on the circumstances."
Its incident response team operated 24/7, while serious complaints, including allegations of sexual assault, can result in a driver's access to the platform being immediately suspended while the matter is investigated.
Uber said breaches of its Community Guidelines could result in a driver losing access to the app.
Cameras under consideration
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said he had asked officials to consider making in-vehicle cameras mandatory in the future.
Any change would need to be carefully considered, he said.
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