The Government is preparing to require taxis to install either cameras or screens after a meeting with industry representatives today.
And the taxi industry is behind the move after a spate of attacks including the slaying last week of Hiren Mohini, 39, a driver for Auckland Co-Op Taxis.
As New Zealand Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish put it: "I think there's a realisation that I could be next. That's really what's bought it home. Cab drivers have for a long time been in denial that it could actually happen to them."
There are about 7000 cabs operating in New Zealand. Costs for safety measures would be passed onto customers -- and a ballpark figure of about 30 cents a trip has been suggested.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said decisions were yet to be made but taxi companies preferred the camera option that had been successful in Australia.
"There's been quite a shift in the attitude of drivers and owners of cars as a result of recent events that we need to now move pretty quickly on mandating a safety option," he said.
"It's sad for the country, but that's a reality that the industry has to deal with and myself as minister."
Options to be considered also included duress alarms.
Mr Joyce said the industry understood the Government would not pay for the cameras or screens as it did not pay for safety measures in other workplaces.
Whether all taxis would be affected -- or just those who worked at night or those who worked in provincial centres -- would be part of considerations.
"Because its a significant decision for the industry we are going to take a little bit of time, but only a short period of time, to assess the experience particularly in Australian jurisdictions as to the effectiveness of the different measures that are being added there. And then make a call."
The New Zealand Transport Agency and Ministry of Transport were working on a report which would be ready within four weeks.
"I think probably the consensus would be...in favour of cameras. But I want to be sure on the evidence that we have from other jurisdictions that would be the most likely to be effective option before we proceed."
He said mandating could be done by a rule change rather than new legislation. It was necessary to mandate because otherwise companies that did make efforts to protect their drivers would face a commercial disadvantage compared to those who did not bother.
A penalty regime would be set up for those who did not comply.
Mr Reddish said that in Australia screens had caused problems with comfort and communication and cameras had been much more popular.
In Queensland assaults on drivers had reduced 75 percent since installation.
He said cameras could be paid for incrementally and that could cost about 30 cents a fare.
NZPA