An Auckland bus driver was admitted to Auckland Hospital yesterday after an angry, non-paying passenger grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed foam through the hole in her safety cage.
The assault caused the woman driver to inhale foam and resulted in swelling around her eyes. She is now recovering at home while the swelling subsides.
The incident occurred about 6pm on Mt Eden Rd, just south of Mt Eden Village. After a passenger rang the bell, the driver stopped at the next stop and opened the doors. No one got off, so she closed the doors and continued driving.
A man came to the front and demanded the driver open the doors, but she was already in traffic and continued to the next stop.
When she opened the doors to let him off, he grabbed a fire extinguisher from behind the driver’s seat and discharged it through the opening in the protective screen, engulfing the safety cage in foam powder.
Passengers called the police and an ambulance, which transported the woman to Auckland Hospital to get checked out.
Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill, the area investigations manager for Auckland City West, said police were called to the Mt Eden Rd scene yesterday after a passenger had been verbally aggressive and sprayed the driver with a fire extinguisher.
“The passenger left the scene before the police arrived and was last seen by witnesses walking on Mt Eden Rd.
“Police are following positive lines of inquiry to identify the man responsible.
“The bus driver was assessed by ambulance staff and while she is suffering from some discomfort, there are no significant ongoing effects,” Darvill said.
Police and Auckland Transport (AT) are supporting the driver in her recovery.
The driver wished to pass on her thanks to the other passengers who assisted her after the assault and said that despite the incident, she believes New Zealand is a safe place and, for the most part, we look after each other, Darvill said.
Anyone with information about the incident or the man involved should contact police.
The incident is the latest attack on bus drivers, after a 2022 surge that has since dropped away with the introduction of protective driver screens and drivers not arguing with passengers who refuse to pay, according to New Zealand Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt.
AT is also fitting more than 70 buses with live CCTV cameras.
The new technology will allow a driver to silently press a button to alert a CCTV operator to watch a potential assault or abusive behaviour.
Asked for comment, AT said violent behaviour was “totally unacceptable”.
“The issue of community safety and antisocial behaviour extends well beyond public transport,” an AT spokesperson said.
“The incidents we see taking place on Auckland’s public transport services are a symptom of broader challenges our society is grappling with and we can’t address these issues in isolation - to make public transport safer we also have to make our homes, communities and streets safer.
“AT is continuing to work closely with Auckland Council, Police and other Government agencies with a role to play in keeping our communities safe.”
AT added physical assaults against bus drivers trended down in 2025 compared with 2024, and 650 buses now have driver protection screens installed.
Last month, Sefo Leger died after an unprovoked attack when a passenger on a bus from Glen Innes to Ōrākei pulled out a knife and “initiated an attack on him”, according to police.
Leger managed to get off the bus but died in hospital from his injuries. The suspected attacker stayed on the bus and allegedly attacked another man, who later needed surgery on his hand.
A 36-year-old man has been charged with murdering Leger and wounding Gerard Katu with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
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