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Electric Executive Tours and Transfers

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Our story

Owner-operated in Hawke's Bay, and proud to host you.

Sustainable, electric-first premium transport. Preferred provider to Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Craggy Range, Porters Boutique Hotel, Mangapapa Hotel, Black Barn Retreats and Hawthorne House.

Three Electric Executive hosts standing between the BYD Atto 3 and Mercedes-Benz eVito in a Hawke's Bay vineyard

Who we are

Electric Executive brings a sustainable, electric-first option to premium transport in Hawke's Bay. We are based in Havelock North, owner-operated by Duncan Darroch, and fully aligned to five-star transport standards.

We hold the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Award for Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices, 2026 and 2027.

Electric Executive aims to enable businesses and manuhiri (visitors) alike to choose low-emission transport that aligns with their own sustainability values, for example the Tiaki Promise, and with ESG reporting, without compromising quality. The BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model Y and Mercedes-Benz eVito are fully electric. The Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Sprinter are diesel, and we use them for larger groups and longer distances.

Get in touch

Expert local drivers

Our highly experienced team has a deep knowledge of Hawke's Bay, and a commitment to the very best customer service.

  • Full commercial passenger licences. Every one of our drivers is fully licensed for commercial passenger transport.
  • Deep local knowledge. Genuine familiarity with the region, its roads, wineries and hidden corners.
  • Service-first approach. Attentive, discreet, and dedicated to five-star care on every journey.

Small Passenger Service Licence 0332519.

Expertise and care

Our team.

Our guides and drivers bring genuine professional depth to every encounter. Sustainability is enacted through expertise and care, not scripts. We value that partnership in how we pay: every host is paid well above the New Zealand Living Wage, and our team has grown steadily over the past year.

Duncan Darroch

Duncan Darroch founded Electric Executive in 2023 with one BYD Atto 3 and one client, Hawthorne House in Havelock North. Today the business hosts guests for Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Craggy Range and Porters Boutique Hotel, and holds the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Award for Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices, 2026 and 2027.

Duncan trained as a winemaker at the University of Auckland, graduating with Distinction, and worked the 2007 vintage at Kumeu River under Michael Brajkovich MW before four years at Villa Maria Estate. He then taught science, biology and horticulture for a decade, guiding students toward practical environmental action.

Electric Executive puts that teaching into practice: an electric-first fleet, and hosting grounded in manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, care for people and care for the land. Duncan lives in Havelock North with his wife and two young children.

Read Duncan’s full biography

Heather Clinton

A lover of people, food, travel and authentic experiences, Heather delights in uncovering what makes a region tick. Formerly of Zest Food Tours Wellington, she paints a vivid picture of what it means to be a Kiwi and a proud Hawke's Bay local.

Bronnie Coory

Bronnie is a foundation of Electric Executive and our dedicated Rosewood Cape Kidnappers transfer host. A former charity general manager, she brings warmth, meticulous organisation and genuine care to every guest she welcomes aboard.

Trevor Morrison

Trevor spent his career as Chief Pilot at Napier Port, guiding ships safely into Hawke's Bay long before he began guiding guests through it. Now specialising in corporate and golf transfers, he brings the same calm precision and quiet professionalism to every journey.

Philip Shambrook

A former Royal Air Force officer originally from the United Kingdom, Philip is a musician, parkrun event director and dedicated community leader. Hosting our Te Mata Peak excursions, he brings the same warmth, inclusion and local connection to every journey.

Niki Willis

Niki brings decades of professional driving and wine tour hosting to Electric Executive. Her deep knowledge of Hawke's Bay wine country and easy, welcoming manner make every tour feel effortless.

Leo Olsen

Born in South Africa, Leo spent five years in the UK playing village and county cricket before making New Zealand home for the past 20 years. A mum of two, keen tennis player and our evening transfer specialist, she loves sharing the journey with every guest she drives.

Economic development

Regional partnerships.

We work directly with Hawke's Bay producers and operators to grow regional tourism. For many of our partners, we are their first connection to international visitors.

Local-firstTourism spend directed to Hawke's Bay hosts and producers
7+Producers helped to host visitors for the first time
7M+Combined influencer reach brought to the region

We direct a substantial share of our tourism revenue back into the regional economy, to local contract hosts and to wineries, producers and suppliers, keeping spend circulating within Hawke's Bay. Local economic spend for the year to 30 June 2026 is verified from HNRY and Xero records.

Established partnerships

New to tourism: hosting visitors for the first time

Through our Artisan Producers Tour we bring producers with no previous international visitors into tourism, helping each shape its guest experience and adding real economic value to the business.

Market access

We have brought Instagram influencers with a combined following of over 7 million to regional producers, and hosted international food and beverage importers seeking to bring Hawke's Bay products to their home markets. Recent influencer partners include:

NameHandleFollowersCountry
Lydia Deane@lydiasarunrat5MThailand
Matthew Deane Chanthavanij@matthew.deane11MThailand
Filipus Adimas DC@filipusadc615KIndonesia
Tyen Rasif@tyenrasif199KSingapore
Febrian@_febrian142KIndonesia
Terrence Teo@terrenceteo7130KMalaysia
Joanna Soh@joannasohofficial119KMalaysia
Katya Katkova@eastlondonmornings113KUK
Hayley Lee@huinileee109KSingapore

Credentials

Certifications and memberships

  • Qualmark Silver: Sustainable Tourism Business, GSTC-recognised. qualmark.co.nz, listed on newzealand.com
  • Best Of Wine Tourism 2026 and 2027: Award of Excellence, Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices, Great Wine Capitals Global Network. greatwinecapitals.com
  • Air New Zealand Official Taxi Partner: the only regional provider to hold this partnership.
  • Hawke's Bay Tourism member. hawkesbaynz.com
  • Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce member.
  • Tourism New Zealand Tiaki Promise. tiakinewzealand.com
  • Small Passenger Service Association (Taxi Federation). spsa.co.nz
  • Small Passenger Service Licence 0332519.

Inclusive travel

Accessibility

We believe exceptional experiences should be available to every guest, regardless of mobility, age or group composition. Our drivers provide attentive, unhurried assistance at every step of your journey.

  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Upgraded June 2026 with a powered automatic mobility assistance step, doorway grab handles, and wide upright seats with full armrests and lumbar support.
  • Mercedes-Benz eVito. Side doors on both sides so a support person can assist from either position, and a low entry step.
  • All vehicles. Full boarding and alighting assistance, complete luggage handling, and drivers experienced in assisting guests who use walkers or canes.
  • We regularly host cruise ship guests with a range of mobility and health considerations, and adapt the pace and format of each experience to suit.

A folding wheelchair or walking frame travels with you. Our vehicles are not certified Total Mobility vehicles, so we cannot carry a passenger who remains seated in a wheelchair. Please contact us before booking so we arrange the right vehicle and level of support. Our accessibility page sets out what we can and cannot do.