KEY POINTS:
A Taranaki taxi driver who was beaten and left locked in his taxi is out of his coma and able to walk, but too unwell to speak with police about his ordeal.
Tony Brosnan, 49, was found with a severe head injury in a carport on school grounds at Urenui, 30km northeast of New Plymouth, last Friday.
"He was walking today, aided by medical staff, but his conversation was limited," Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward of New Plymouth police told NZPA.
A hitchhiker seen thumbing a ride from Urenui, 30km east of New Plymouth, towards Waitara about 7.20am, still had not come forward.
He was aged between 20 and 25, of slight build with wispy facial hair and wearing a baggy jersey.
There had been "a few snippets" of information from the public about the man and they were following those leads, Mr Coward said.
- NZPA
