Key Takeaways
- A group of festival-goers were left stranded after a shuttle service, Wana Taxi, failed to show up despite being prepaid.
- The group had to spend an additional $40 per person to get bus tickets to and from the festival.
- The incident is being investigated by police as a potential case of obtaining by deception.
- This is not the only transport horror story to arise out of recent holiday festivals, with another group of festival-goers being forced to trek through the night in deep mud and torrential rain after their pre-booked bus never showed up.
- The incidents have left attendees feeling frustrated, disappointed, and concerned about the reliability of transport services.
Introduction to the Incident
The recent holiday festivals have been marred by transport horror stories, with one group of festival-goers being left stranded after a shuttle service failed to show up. Josh, the group’s organizer, had booked rides with Wana Taxi, a shuttle service that was supposed to take them to and from the festival. The group had prepaid for the service, which was supposed to take them 15 minutes each way, but when Josh tried to confirm the pickup, he discovered that the company’s phone number was no longer in service and emails were going unanswered.
The Discovery of the Scam
After trying to get in touch with the company, Josh asked around other local taxi companies and discovered that nobody had heard from the owner of Wana Taxi in months. This revelation led Josh to lay a complaint with the police, who are now investigating the incident as a potential case of obtaining by deception. The group had to fork out an additional $40 per person to get bus tickets to and from the festival, bringing the total cost of transport to over $1,000. Josh expressed his frustration and stress, saying that he felt "disbelief" that the incident had happened and was feeling "just stressed out".
Attempts to Contact Wana Taxi
The Herald attempted to contact Wana Taxi, but the company’s phone number appears to be disconnected, and a request for comment by email has not received a response. A reporter also visited two Wanaka addresses associated with the company, but could not find the owner. The police have confirmed that they have been contacted regarding the incident and are assessing the case, but could not offer any further information yet.
Other Transport Horror Stories
Josh’s case is not the only transport horror story to arise out of recent holiday festivals. A group of Rhythm and Vines festival-goers were forced to trek through the night in deep mud and torrential rain because their pre-booked bus never showed up. The group had purchased a $70 bus pass, which was supposed to provide service to and from the festival, but it failed to materialize. The attendees were left feeling unsafe, out of pocket, and disappointed, with one attendee saying that they were forced to squeeze onto other bus services and walk the rest of the way each night.
The Festival Experience
The Rhythm and Vines festival, which was held from December 28 to January 1, made headlines as "Rhythm and Rain" after severe weather turned the site into a mud pit. The attendee who spoke to the Herald said that this was her third time at the festival and that she had purchased a similar bus pass for trips to and from the festival previously, which was reliable. However, this year, the bus never arrived, leaving her and her friends in an unsafe situation with no sober driver available to get them home.
Conclusion and Concerns
The incidents have raised concerns about the reliability of transport services, particularly during peak festival seasons. The attendees who were affected by the incidents have expressed their frustration and disappointment, with some feeling that they have been left out of pocket. The police are investigating the incidents, and it is hoped that measures will be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. As one attendee said, "It was horrible," and it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that festival-goers have access to reliable and safe transport services.
