Taranaki taxi driver in hospital after attack

A taxi driver is in hospital with serious facial injuries after he was attacked by two passengers in Taranaki this morning.

The 61-year-old driver from New Plymouth had picked the men up in Waitara, 16km north-east of New Plymouth, and had been close to their destination on the other side of the town when they assaulted him on Bayly St between 5 and 5.15am, Detective Mike Thorne said.

A member of the public heard a ruckus across the road and called police.

An ambulance took the driver to Taranaki Base Hospital, where he was admitted, Mr Thorne told NZPA.

He had been treated for severe bruising around his eyes and received stitches to his forehead, top of his head and near his eye.

Police did not yet know why he was attacked, Mr Thorne said.

"Probably robbery would be the motive."

Police were investigating what was taken, he said.

The driver did not know the offenders.

Police want to speak to anyone in the Bayly St, Calgher Ave who heard or saw anything suspicious.

- NZPA