Until then, Ms Hippolite was a prison guard, a job she had done for 26 years.
But a desire to do something ''more positive'' drove her to look for work outside the prison.
In October last year, Ms Hippolite and partner Rob Hoogenrad bought a Driving Miss Daisy franchise.
The service is like a taxi service with more.
Ms Hippolite helps people get to the car and to wherever they need to go, be it an appointment, shopping or elsewhere, and can assist them while there. And she loves it.
''I thought it would be nice to work in a more positive environment, because prison can be quite negative.
''This job is about giving back and giving people their independence.''
Customers ranged in age and character, from children needing to be taken to school to burly firemen on ACC who needed transport and elderly people going to appointments, the supermarket or into town for shopping.
Her area covered southern Dunedin and the service had become so popular, it introduced a second car in May.
And the clients like it, too.
Partially sighted Chatswood resident Iris Finlayson-Bartlett (90), who used the service monthly, said it meant she did not have to depend on her family to get out and do things.
''Some days you feel good and you don't mind, but other days you don't feel you can do it yourself.''
