Cabbie pauses for a quiet drive down memory lane

MR CAB DRIVER: Dave Mayhew has seen a lot during his 45 years driving the city streets, but has no regrets. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 160114BF5

Rotorua cabbie Dave Mayhew has seen plenty in 45 years as a taxi driver.

From having passengers spew in his car, the deregulation of the taxi industry to being held up at gunpoint.

Rotorua's longest-serving cabbie has learned to have patience for the job.

"I don't complain, I just go along with it," the 77-year-old said.

"I really enjoy the work - there's a lot of things I don't do anymore, like pick up partygoers at night - but I'm afraid if I stop driving I will wither up."

Originally from Essex, Dave came to New Zealand as a joiner in 1961, starting in Napier staying three years before heading to Kaponga.

He was set to move to Wanganui when his brother coaxed him to Rotorua to work at Lloyd's Joinery.

"They gave me a house to rent for 2 pound a week, I was made."

But he always had a hankering to be his own boss.

When a deal to buy a furniture business fell through, it opened the door to buy his first cab licence in 1968.

Nearly half a century later, he has no regrets - the only times he has looked back is to see if there is any traffic behind him.

"I always had this compulsion from the time I arrived in New Zealand to own a small business.

"I could see there were all sorts of things going on.

"They were crying out for cabbies in Rotorua - it looked a good way to work for myself."

He began working 70 hours a week - only cutting back on the hours, including nights and weekends - when his wife died several years ago.

"I get too grumpy now with late night party goers."

Dave has experienced the best and worst of human nature in his cab.

"I've had them all - the richest, the poorest, the smelliest and the cleanest - the whole gambit."

He's ferried television stars - from Yootha Joyce, of George and Mildred fame, to Timothy Spall - to politicians and industry heads.

He brushes off any drama from the times he has been held up at knifepoint and gunpoint, as well as being nearly strangled.

"It happened 10-15 years ago, at the time I just wasn't really sure what was going on.

"The guy who tried to strangle me was suffering from trauma from the war - I didn't press charges, I felt sorry for him."

Cars have improved, become more fuel efficient as costs rise - petrol cost six cents a litre when he began - while the number of cabs in the city has nearly halved from 64 to 33 in 15 years, and competition from shuttle and dial-a-driver services had increased.

"There's always a need for cabbies," he said.

"Taxis will always be more convenient than buses.

"Customers die off, others disappear but the elderly still need a cab to get to the other side of the city if there is no bus route, or a hand with their groceries."

He is now on to his 10th vehicle - a 3.5 litre Nissan Maxima - after driving Peugeot, Datsun, and Ford models previously.

"I've worn out 10 cars and 318 tyres - that's why the roads are black," he jokes.

His current Nissan has clocked up 313,000 kilometres in five-and-half years and is the most fuel efficient he has owned.

"I tried the lot - petrol, diesel, LPG - now I use high octane petrol - it's the best yet."

Deregulation of the industry had been difficult, he said.

"I made a good living from driving cabs but I'd hate to be starting out now as a young man with a mortgage.

"There's so many rules and regulations, log books to fill and paper work to complete, such as GST, as well as minimum wages and annual holidays - it's become so complex it's a nuisance."

Above all he is proud of his chosen vocation.

"To be a taxi driver you have to be a person of upstanding character and be tolerant of any other road users, whether it is a possum or a pedestrian.

"I have no thoughts of retiring - if I do it will be because I will be forced out, either by health or industry changes.

"I never want to have any regrets when I go."

When Dave does decide to turn off his meter it will be to spend more time riding his beloved vintage motorcycles, play the clarinet, or practise his French.