Police are investigating after a woman bus driver was assaulted by a male passenger with a fire extinguisher in Auckland on Tuesday evening.
The victim was driving the 27H route in Mt Eden when a verbally aggressive passenger sprayed her with the device just after 6pm.
The passenger, who fled before police arrived, was last seen by witnesses walking along Mt Eden Rd, Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill said.
"Police are following positive lines of enquiry to identify the man responsible," he said.
"The bus driver was assessed by ambulance staff and, while she is suffering from some discomfort, there are no significant ongoing effects."
In a statement, an Auckland Transport spokesperson told 1News incidents involving "violent, threatening and antisocial behaviour on Auckland’s public transport network are rare but are totally unacceptable".
"Although our teams at Auckland Transport have an important role to play in helping to maintain and promote a safe environment on our services and at our facilities, the issue of community safety and antisocial behaviour extends well beyond public transport."
The spokesperson said such incidents on the city's public transport services were a "symptom of broader challenges our society is grappling with".
"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. This helps us to coordinate our various safety initiatives and share information that helps us respond to safety trends more quickly and effectively."
Police and Auckland Transport were supporting the driver in her recovery.
"The driver did wish to pass on her thanks to the other passengers that assisted her immediately after the assault," Darvill said. "Despite the incident, she feels as though New Zealand is a safe place and that for the most part, we look after each other."
Anyone with information was asked to contact police.
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