Jared Dixon, 18, and Tomote Manu, 19, have been jailed for two years nine months and three years respectively. Singh's turban came off during the attack due to blows to his head, but he can't remember much else as he was unconscious.
"I put my hand on my face. They hit me on my hand and head. They dragged me on to the road and hit me on my body." He believed he owed his life to people who ran to his aid. Other Tauranga driver friends had lost teeth and had their turbans ripped off them.
Singh, who lived in Tauranga with his wife Surinder and two sons aged 10 and 4, drove his taxi only occasionally now as he was too scared.
Tauranga Mount Taxis spokeswoman Jacqui Coffey said racism happened "all the time". "I get people in the office saying, 'Can I have a white driver'? I say, 'Actually no, you can't request that'."
Besides, with nearly all of their 70 drivers Indian, there were few Pakeha drivers. "I've had people ring up saying, 'Do you have to send me a towel head'? I get offended. Sometimes I'm not quite sure what to say without being really offensive back. I work for some great guys."
She'd watched the footage of the attack on Singh captured in his "blood-splattered vehicle" and was disgusted by the hatred on the faces of the attackers.
Other taxi companies said racial abuse was all too common, but no records were kept and not much could be done about it.
In Auckland, Discount Taxis owner Alan Webster also said some passengers asked for white drivers.
Meanwhile, Humayun thanked people for their support. He said that he held no grudge against Shuttleworth. "Had all the concerned not taken any interest in this incident, it wouldn't have got the exposure to create awareness in the community."
