A fledgling taxi company, which started operating in the Whakatipu in the past month, has stood down one of its drivers and is investigating after receiving complaints of a racially-offensive sticker affixed to the back of a vehicle.
In an email sighted by Mountain Scene, a concerned Queenstowner described the sticker, on the boot of a NZ QT Taxis car, as a ‘‘terrorism sticker’’.
The resident spotted the vehicle at Queenstown Airport earlier this month — the sticker, depicting a man wearing a turban and holding a gun, was on the driver’s side boot — and questioned how the taxi could operate from an international airport with that affixed.
An NZ QT Taxis spokesperson tells Scene the sticker was placed on the contractor driver’s taxi without their knowledge, and they don’t yet know how it came to be there.
‘‘We, as a company, do not support the image or sticker in any way, or any harmful or offensive material.
‘‘We apologise to everyone who found it offensive.’’
The company sought for the sticker to be removed immediately and has launched an internal investigation.
‘‘While the investigation is being carried out, we have stood down the driver of the taxi, effective immediately.’’
A Queenstown Airport spokeswoman tells Scene the vehicle in question didn’t have access to its taxi rank, but the driver held a ride-share account.
However, the airport’s agreement with operators states ‘‘all vehicles must be free from any offensive or distasteful branding or advertising’’.
Following Scene inquiries, the airport also contacted the driver, seeking for the sticker to be removed, and a spokesperson says they’ve received evidence that’s happened.
