Forty officers investigate taxi driver's murder

Police inspect the scene of the murder. Photo / Richard Robinson

The "particularly vicious" and "frenzied" murder of taxi driver Hiren Mohini is now being investigated by 40 police officers.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones has described the murder as brutal enough to shock criminals.

"We are determined to solve this murder, and we will," Mr Jones said.

He said police have had "encouraging" calls to their 0800 number as they appeal to the public for information on the attack.

He encouraged residents of View Rd in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden to check their bins and sheds in case the attacker had taken anything or left anything behind.

"Clothing may have gone missing off clothes lines. If there's anything that may be of interest to police then my investigation team will be keen to hear," Mr Jones said.

Standing metres from where the father of two swerved off View Rd in Mt Eden early on Sunday with multiple, unsurvivable stab wounds, Mr Jones described the attack as "particularly vicious" and "frenzied".

"I think this would shock anybody, even those from the criminal community," he said. "Mr Mohini was a good man and a father to two young children, they're all grieving really badly and I would urge the offender to come forward or anybody who knows the offender to tell us about him."

The killer would have been covered in blood "to some extent" and acting unusually, Mr Jones said.

He said the post mortem examination had confirmed that Mr Mohini, 39, died of several stab wounds and forensic experts were examining a knife at the scene, believed to be the murder weapon.

Detectives were still working out the route Mr Mohini took after a pick-up from SkyCity in central Auckland about 1.13am.

Mr Jones could not say whether Mr Mohini pushed the taxi's panic button before the attack or during it.

"Shortly after 1.20am on Sunday the emergency button [in the taxi] was activated and paramedics attended."

Mr Jones said the taxi driver's family were "naturally devastated" but were receiving good support from the taxi community and extended family. Mr Mohini leaves a wife and two daughters of 2 and 5.

Mr Jones said staff were examining security footage from SkyCity and the central city, which was very time-consuming.

Police officers would go door-to-door in the area around View Rd and seek witnesses in the central city.

They were not ruling out the possibility of other passengers in the taxi.

Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish said the group was rallying members to make donations to the family. "An appeal will go out to the taxi industry asking member companies and drivers to contribute."

He said Transport Minister Steven Joyce had phoned him to flag a meeting on improving safety, but no date had been set.

"We had an in-depth discussion about what's required last night, but I don't want to go into detail yet ... I suspect things will happen reasonably quickly though."

Mr Reddish said some of Mr Mohini's extended family were coming out from India and the funeral was likely to be this week.

Mt Roskill MP Phil Goff has visited Mr Mohini's family to pay his respects. He said colleagues of the dead driver had asked him to approach the Transport Minister about compulsory protective shielding in taxis.

Mr Jones said anyone with information can call police on 0800 Edgewater or 0800 444 014.

- With NZHERALD STAFF