Waiheke locals are up in arms about a group of Auckland-based taxi drivers poaching business on the island

Island Taxis driver Richard Cannon says while last summer, there were only a few drivers bringing their cars over on the ferry and operating, numbers have been creeping up in the past few weeks.

He says there are about eight drivers who are "clogging up the rank" at the Matiatia Wharf ferry terminal at weekends.

Cannon says some are even sleeping overnight in their vehicles.

He says the imposters are also pretending to live on the island, putting signs on their vehicles which read 'we are locals'.

Waiheke local board member Shirin Brown is also fuming over the seemingly helpless situation.

She says a lot of taxi drivers on the island rely on the summer trade for their income.