Taxi stands should have cameras - Wellington taxi company

Taxis line up on Federal Street in Auckland CBD. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A Wellington taxi company whose driver was stabbed at the weekend wants all cab stands to have cameras.

Shelmon Yako, 60, was stabbed many times in the chest and abdomen by a man he picked up during the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Kiwi Cabs driver picked up the man at the Bay Road taxi stand in Kilbirnie and drove him to Shropshire Avenue in Wilton where he was attacked. He spent three days in hospital and was now recovering at home.

Kiwi Cabs manager Ninos Zaya said the taxi stands in the suburbs - particularly Bay Road and Newtown - were a problem for taxi drivers because passengers had not phoned in a pick-up or drop-off address.

"Especially at nighttime on the weekends, we have no defence on customers, we don't know who the customers are," he told NZPA.

All taxis in larger cities have to be fitted with an internal camera after a law change last year.

However, Mr Zaya said this was not enough.

"I'm really with the camera in the car...but if there's no camera outside the taxi it's not going to help.

"We don't know who is [entering] from outside, before he comes in."

Police said no arrests had been made and inquiries were continuing.

- NZPA