KEY POINTS:
A kidnapped taxi driver found in the boot of his cab in north Taranaki this morning, is on life support in hospital, police say.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward told reporters at Urenui Primary School, where the 49-year-old Waitara man was found, that he was in a critical condition in Taranaki Base Hospital after suffering a head injury.
Mr Coward said a group of workers clearing the school grounds saw the taxi, with its roof light on, parked in a car port by the school dental clinic.
When they went to investigate closer, they heard a noise from the boot.
"They tapped and there was a response. As a result emergency services were deployed, including the police and the boot was opened," he said.
"In it we found the taxi driver. He was very incoherent, distraught and very weak."
Police are conducting a scene examination and canvass of the neighbourhood. A forensic examination of the taxi would be done this evening, Mr Coward said.
The driver had last called the Waitara base of his company, Egmont City Cabs, about midnight and police wanted to trace the taxi's movements between that time and 8.45am when it was found.
They appealed to anyone who had seen or travelled in the 1999 white Toyota Camry taxi after midnight to contact them. The car displays Egmont City Cabs' livery, with registration number TAX1 1 (eds: crct).
"This is a very sad case. We believe the taxi driver was kidnapped and placed in the boot of his own car," Mr Coward said.
- NZPA
