Another e-scooter service for Wellington

The future of Wellington is now looking pink with Flamingo, a dockless electric scooter-share service, launching in the capital this month.

Local young entrepreneurs Nick Hyland and Jacksen Love (pictured) created the company as a first and last mile transport option that “eases congestion on roads and helps Wellingtonians get around their city in a fun, affordable, safe and easy way, whilst reducing their reliance on cars”. After a competitive pitch, Flamingo is set to be the only New Zealand-owned company, and one of only two companies altogether, who were chosen by Wellington City Council to provide e-scooter services in the capital.  

Flamingo is also rolling out e-scooter fleets in Auckland and Christchurch in the following months. It will be the only NZ-owned and operated e-scooter company in each of those cities, and the only single operator with a presence in all three markets – meaning users only need one app as they travel between New Zealand’s three largest cities.

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch Flamingo in our home city. We’re proud to be the only local electric scooter company with the opportunity to contribute to the future of urban mobility in Wellington,” says Jacksen Love.

“We’re committed to the safety of our riders, so users can expect some unique features such as an in-app safety tutorial and free helmets,” adds Nick Hyland. 

With safety being the company’s number one priority, Flamingo’s pink fleet consists of the highly regarded Segway-Ninebot scooters on which strict safety checks are performed before they’re released into service. To avoid danger and keep the scooters in a safe condition, an embedded safety device allows Flamingo to monitor and control any scooter at any time. The device will alert Flamingo if a scooter falls over or detects tampering. The Flamingo fleet also utilises GPS and geofence technology to create low-speed zones and restrict riders from riding and parking in designated areas.

Flamingo will offer all riders a free helmet, which can be ordered through the app. The company will also introduce a network of local spots which will act as “helmet hubs” for users to pick-up and drop-off borrowed helmets, free of charge, if they do not want to carry their own around. Flamingo staff will also be on the ground to support riders and members of the public.

Riders will need to complete Flamingo’s in-app training before they can use a Flamingo scooter for the first time. In Wellington, Jacksen and Nick worked closely with the Wellington City Council to design a unique, easy-to-use programme that accounts for Wellington’s distinctive geography and city layout.

To hire a Flamingo scooter on a per minute basis anywhere in the Wellington service zone, users will need to download and open the Flamingo mobile app, search the map to locate their nearest Flamingo scooter and unlock it by scanning the QR code on the handlebar. Flamingo users will be charged a $1 base fare, then 30c per minute of use.