Prime Minister John Key was one of the first on the scene of an altercation between a taxi driver and a pedestrian in Wellington today.
Mr Key said he was out for a run on Bowen St about 6.30am when he came across a man lying in the street.
"There were a number of people milled around the gentleman in question, I suggested to my police officers that I thought we should stop and provide assistance," Mr Key said.
"They called for an ambulance and for backup police officers, we waited until they arrived on the scene and had control of the situation and then we left."
Acting Senior Sergeant Mel Warren told NZPA a 63-year-old taxi driver had been charged with assault following the incident, which was believed to have begun when the 44-year-old pedestrian took issue with how the driver approached traffic lights at the intersection of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street.
The driver allegedly got out of the car and grabbed the other man who fell to the ground, knocking his head. He was taken to Wellington Hospital with serious injuries.
The taxi driver was due to appear in Wellington District Court on Friday.
