Hundreds of taxis join driver's funeral cortege

Police investigating the murder of Hiren Mohini want to find the owner of this bag. Photo / Supplied

The 1pm funeral for slain Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini was delayed this afternoon by heavy traffic congestion on the major west Auckland road of Great North Road.

As friends and family prepared themselves for today's funeral, one mourner said he would no longer work nights and his wife needed counselling as a result of the killing.

Mr Mohini, a 39-year-old father of two young girls, was stabbed to death by a passenger in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden on Sunday morning.

Hundreds of taxis with black ribbons on their aerials joined a funeral cortege travelling to the cemetery ahead of Mr Mohini's service. Neighbours came out on to the streets to pay their respects.

Police advised motorists to be patient and to use other routes between 11.45am and 1pm as the funeral cortege travelled from Mersey Place in New Windsor to Waikumete Cemetery via Laburnum Road, Richardson Road, New North Road and Great North Road.

Traffic was backed up at all major intersections on the route, especially the Blockhouse Bay intersection.

Police shut down major intersections on the cortege's route and are manually directing traffic.

Taxi driver Aftab Ahmed said his wife could no longer sleep at night while he was out working.

As he left the Mohini home, an emotional Mr Ahmed said he knew Mr Mohini "very well".

"His daughter and my daughter are going to the same kindy, I would see him two or three times every single day. He was very kind, you look at his face and he's got the same smile, he's always smiling."

He said the death penalty was needed for those responsible for Mr Mohini's death.

"The problem is nothing can bring this guy back."

Another driver, Karamjit Singh, said drivers were "very scared" to be working at night.

"At night we can't keep an eye on the passengers, if they are sitting in the back you can't see what they're up to."

Mr Singh said he was very careful about who he let in his car and would not stop if he could not see a perspective client's face.

Mr Singh advocated for the installation of screens in taxis.

"The camera can identify but cannot save you."

Another driver who supported screens to be installed is Sahib Singh who said the cost was worth it.

"Life is very precious."

His friend, Jagdev Singh, said the authorities needed to act and the current requirement for taxi companies to be available at night should be scrapped.

Jagan Reddy, a taxi driver from Auckland, was one of many to arrive at the Mohini home this morning.

He said taxi drivers were now scared when working on Auckland streets at night.

Although he did not know Mr Mohini personally, Mr Reddy said drivers would often wave to each other and know each other's face.

"I feel like he is my brother who has passed away."

He said had joined his colleagues on the streets today to show his support for the Mohini family and hoped to make it clear to the police and the Government that Mr Mohini's murderer must be caught.

Mr Reddy has been in New Zealand for 14 years and emigrated to give his two children a better education.

"I don't feel safe working after six or seven any more. Everybody is scared to work at night."

Another driver, Peter Vengala, said he also did not feel safe and that regulations such as those in Australia needed to be introduced.

Mr Vengala said he had been stabbed while working and had also experienced violence from drunk people.

He told nzherald.co.nz that while picking up a fare in Northcote. on Auckland's North Shore, he was approached by a masked man and asked for money.

"I said 'don't do anything, I'll give you the money'."

Mr Vengala said the man then told him "I'm going to kill you". Mr Vengala said he then went to run but was stabbed in the back and when he called police the offender ran off.

A neighbour of Mr Mohini, Manish Narayan said he didn't know the Mohini family lived just around the corner but it was a close-knit neighbourhood and he would be visiting them soon.

Another neighbour, John Jones, said he would often wave to Mr Mohini as he took his young children to school in the morning.

"We've personally advocated for screens [inside taxis] for years. I got a taxi licence several years ago but because of assaults on drivers, my wife wouldn't let me do it."

Earlier today Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said police were unsure of the killer's motive but did not believe it was robbery

"He died at the end of a paltry $15.20 unpaid fare after about an eight minute journey from the city centre to View Rd in Mt Eden," Mr Jones said.

He said a bloody blue bag had been found near the scene of Mr Mohini's murder and was being forensically checked. It is described as blue, tubular and has a white logo with the initials DA on it and the words "Dicon Aibi".

"The logo is unusual and the bag itself does not belong to the resident or any of the immediate neighbours. Add to that the presence of the blood on it and I'd say it's fairly important we track down whoever left it in the neighbourhood or someone who knows who did.

The attacker fled and police, who described the killing as a "particularly vicious, brutal and frenzied attack", have appealed for help in finding the attacker.

Mr Mohini has been described as a "gentle giant" and devoted family man. He leaves a wife, Falguni, and two young children.

The killing had prompted an outpouring of sympathy from family and friends and fellow taxi drivers and the company said new procedures would be put in place to keep drivers safe.

Barry White, general manger of Auckland Co-op Taxis, said the focus now was ensuring Mr Mohini's family had all the support it needed.

However, he also said driver safety was paramount and the company would move quickly.

New safety measures could include screens, cameras and flak jackets or protective clothing.

Police said the team hunting for his killer had been increased to 40 and every resource was being made available.

Police urged people to call the homicide hotline on 0800 444 014 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

- NZPA and NZHERALD STAFF