Police boost numbers in hunt for cabbie's killer

Police hunting the killer of Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini have boosted their numbers to 50, and say they are making constant breakthroughs.

Mr Mohini, 39, died after he was repeatedly stabbed in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden by a passenger he had picked up in the central business district.

Police would like to speak to a man of Asian appearance they believe may be involved in the killing.

Yesterday they appealed to the Asian community for help in tracing the killer, saying their inquiries showed many were unaware of the murder.

Asians made up nearly 30 percent of the central Auckland population and it was vital they knew how important it was for police to get any information they might have about Mr Mohini's killer, police had said earlier.

Police also released security camera footage of an Asian-looking man captured on CCTV in the CBD before the killing.

He was carrying a bag similar to a distinctive blue bag with bloodstains on it found a short distance from where Mr Mohini died.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones today said the bag and a distinctive black knitted cap in it could be vital clues in finding the killer. The cap had a large white logo outlined with three circles.

Mr Jones said the inquiry team was making good progress but wanted to hear from anyone who recognised the hat, the bag or the man in the security camera footage.

"Every day we are making little breakthroughs. The team has increased to 50 or so staff and there is no let up in the inquiries," he told Radio New Zealand today.