Two brutal attacks on taxi drivers have prompted drivers to call for a rethink of legislation to better protect them from passenger attacks and robberies.
A driver was bashed by three youths in South Auckland early yesterday.
New Zealand Taxi Federation executive director John Hart said the two assaults on drivers during the past two weeks have raised issues about new laws before Parliament for small passenger service vehicles.
Cameras and duress alarms were made compulsory by the Government after taxi drivers in Auckland and Christchurch were murdered by passengers.
Changes to legislation will remove the need for taxis to have duress alarms and, in some cases, the need for security cameras, Mr Hart said.
''In the recent attacks, a Wellington taxi driver was subject to a brutal attack by a person who followed him to Wellington Airport in mid-afternoon.
''The attack had racial overtones and the attacker opened the driver’s door and leapt on top of him, punching him about the head.’’
Mr Hart said the attacker was dragged away by other taxi drivers, ‘‘still shouting racial abuse and threatening further attacks’’.
He said the attacker was held until police arrived who arrested him and two others waiting in a car nearby.
A second incident took place yesterday in Manurewa, South Auckland, just after midnight, Mr Hart said.
''Three youths, aged around 17 or 18, attacked a taxi driver and demanded money.’’
He said the three youths had been passengers in the cab.
''He was punched repeatedly around the head but was able to use his duress alarm to summon help.
''The three youths took off on foot when help arrived and the driver was taken to hospital by ambulance.’’
Mr Hart said the driver was ‘‘badly shaken’’ and in shock.
''He’s at home and trying to get himself ready to go back to work and to earn a living.’’
Mr Hart said when a driver activated a duress alarms the car became ‘‘live’’ and operators at the taxi base could hear what was happening in the vehicle, pinpoint its whereabouts, and direct police and other drivers to the given location.
''Taxi drivers provide a service round the clock but with changing drinking patterns and drug use more anti-social behaviour is being encountered,’’ he said.
''The changes to the Land Transport Act are still before Parliament awaiting a second reading.
''On behalf of taxi drivers throughout New Zealand we make a plea to members of Parliament to ensure a safer work environment for people providing this essential service.’’
