Police appeal for van sightings after Wellington taxi attack

Police are looking for a van similar to this in relation to a terrifying attack on a Wellington taxi driver on Wednesday. Photo / Supplied

Police are appealing for sightings of a van they believe is linked to a brutal attack on a Wellington taxi driver on Wednesday.

The driver was parked at Jarden Mile in the Ngauranga area and waiting for work about 2.30am when he was assaulted and shoved into the boot of the vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Richard Gibson said the taxi was then driven to the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Wellington suburb of Newlands, where it spent "a lot of time".

The seriously injured driver was set free in the suburb of Grenada Village a couple of hours after the attack, and is still recovering in hospital.

Two men - one from Auckland - have been arrested following the incident and will appear in the Wellington District Court this morning.

Police are still hunting another man and have released an image of a van similar to a vehicle they are looking for in relation to the attack.

Gibson said police believe white Toyota Probox registration FLY984 travelled from Auckland to Wellington on Sunday.

The image police have released is not the specific van, but one similar.

"We want to hear from anyone who knows the whereabouts of this vehicle, or thinks they may have seen it since Sunday 6th of August, and particularly want to talk to people who saw it in Wellington in the early hours of Wednesday 9th of August," Gibson said.

"Police have already arrested two men in relation to this offending, they will both appear in Wellington District Court today.

"It is believed a third offender is involved and police are following strong lines of inquiry to locate that person, however, any more information the public can provide could help us to do so."

If you think you have seen this vehicle or have information that could lead to the identification of any further offenders, please contact Detective Sergeant Richard Gibson at Wellington Police on 04 381 2000.