Police are seeking public help in identifying a man who was in a Tauranga taxi when the driver was violently assaulted last night.
The taxi picked up four men from the Welcome Bay shops and drove to Ohauiti Road about midnight.
At the destination the driver was put in a headlock and attacked by the front seat passenger and one man in the rear of the vehicle.
Detective Sergeant Iain Sergeant said the driver managed to get out of the taxi but the assault continued until a neighbour yelled at them.
"As the offenders tried to run off, about half a dozen residents came to the victim's aid and managed to restrain one man," Mr Chapman said.