Fire services are working to extinguish flames that have engulfed a vehicle.
The engine of the black car, located on Victoria St East in Auckland's CBD, appears to have caught fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
The flames have now been brought under control.
Philip Johnson, 70, thought the car was filling up with steam before he pulled over to have a look.
"I thought the radiator had burst or something, but a bloke across the road shouted out to get out and that the car was on fire."
Johnson said two office workers ran out to put the blaze out.
"I wouldn't have done it, with a car half full of gas on fire, but maybe they stopped it exploding."
Mr Johnson was visibly shaken by the incident, but he counts himself lucky.
"I've got nothing to complain about, it's one of those things you can't foresee.
"For a 70-year-old from England it's a first and hopefully the last."
Legislation banning the display of patches in public came into effect last week.