Tauranga taxi driver accosted

A Tauranga taxi driver is recovering after a client pulled a knife on him and forced him to drive, then left him on the side of the road early on Sunday.

Tauranga police said the driver was forced to take the man to Te Puna, west of Tauranga, where he was forced out of the vehicle and the man drove off.

Police are hunting for the man but recovered the taxi in Brookfield about 6am yesterday.

Tauranga Sergeant Cameron Anderson said the taxi driver was shaken but unhurt.