Police hunt armed taxi robbers

Police are hunting two women who held up a taxi driver at gunpoint in central Wellington over the weekend and stole his vehicle and takings.

Detective Paul Baskett of Wellington police said the women were picked up by the Wellington Combined Taxis driver in Kilbirnie and taken to Te Aro, about 4.30pm on Saturday.

The pair then pointed a pistol at the driver's head, demanded his day's takings and stole his taxi, he told The Dominion Post.

It was found in Island Bay a short time later.

The driver was "surprisingly good" after the incident, Mr Baskett said.

Wellington Combined Taxis general manager Kevin Braid said the fact that the women were armed was "quite frightening".

"We tell our drivers that their car isn't worth their life."

Police were carrying out a forensic examination on the taxi today.

Mr Baskett said police believed they knew who the offenders were.

- NZPA