For the seventh year in a row, Uber has shared the weirdest things New Zealanders have left behind in ubers, and I have to ask: Who the f is out here catching a ride with a chicken in hand?
That’s right, the ride-sharing app revealed that one person forgot their chicken after a ride. And it wasn’t just a chicken either, they also forgot chocolate and five medals. I like to think their chicken killed it at some sort of competition and was rewarded with a chocolate bar, why else would they be carrying that combination?
The other ‘top weird and wacky items’ Kiwis left behind are:
- chainsaw
- false teeth
- lotto tickets
- cricket bat
- chilly bins
- jandal
- fishing rod
- fish
- tattoo set
- cat flap door
The cat door and the chainsaw and definitely the most questionable from that list. All the others are understandable, strange, but understandable.
Uber also shared what items we lost most often and, surprisingly, clothes beat out phones for the top spot.
Here’s the whole list of Kiwis ‘most commonly forgotten items:
- clothes
- phone/camera
- bags
- wallets
- jewellery
- headphones/speakers
- umbrella
- vapes
- keys
- laptop
Will come as no surprise to anyone who enjoys a night out that Saturday and Friday are the days Kiwis most often leave something behind. The peak time for forgetfulness is 4 am, fuelled by fun-fun juice, I’m sure.
Finally, Uber also shared what regions leave stuff behind the most - calculating the rate of loss in proportion to rides.
Tauranga has the most forgetful folk, with Palmerston North and Dunedin coming in second and third respectively. New Plymouth always remembers to bring their stuff with them, which is strange because I often forget New Plymouth exists at all.
Here’s the whole list for all those that want to brag to their mates around the country.
NZ’s most to least forgetful regions:
- Tauranga
- Palmerston North
- Dunedin
- Christchurch
- Auckland
- Queenstown
- Napier-Hastings
- Nelson
- Wellington
- Hamilton
- New Plymouth
This is all a reminder of an important life lesson: remember to remember and don't forget, don't forget. If you have forgotten though (ya bloody goober), here's how ya can retrieve your lost items.
Look no further than this help page which outlines the simple steps you can take the next time you leave something behind during your Uber ride.
The best way to retrieve a lost item is to call the driver-partner via the app – but if you leave your phone itself in the Uber ride, you can login to your account on a computer. Here’s what to do:
- Tap “Your Trips” and select the trip where you left something
- Scroll down and tap “Find lost item”
- Tap “Contact driver about a lost item”
- Scroll down and enter the phone number you would like to be contacted at. Tap submit.
- If you lost your personal phone, enter a friend’s phone number instead (you can do this by logging into your account on a computer, or using a friend’s phone).
- Your phone will ring and connect you directly with your driver’s mobile number.
- If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
