NZ Bus

Mar 14, 2023

New On News “Auckland Transport need to make a lot of changes,” a stabbed bus driver says. (File photo) An bus driver who was left seriously injured when he was stabbed by a passenger in Auckland’s Mt Roskill has hit out at the lack of safety measures in place to protect drivers. On Saturday night, Alapati Wilson, 58, was stabbed by a passenger on the side of his ribs just beneath his chest, with the knife scraping his lung. ”It was a close call – I had air between my lung and membrane, I had air close to my heart,” Wilson said on Tuesday, speaking publicly for the first time since the assault. Wilson was taken to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition where he was monitored overnight, before being discharged late on Sunday. READ MORE: The assault left Wilson’s girlfriend and children “terrified and angry”, as they rushed to be by his side in hospital. Although he’s “happy to be home”, Wilson is nervous about returning to work, which he hopes he’ll be able to do in the next couple of weeks. “There’s no assurance I’ll be safe – anyone can walk on the bus any time and stab you while you’re not looking,” he said. This was the first time Wilson had been physically assaulted in his nine-year stint as a bus driver, but not the first time he had received abuse. CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF A NZ-owned company has designed and built an electric bus which has been unveiled by Transport Minister Michael Wood, but he admits a driver shortage could put bumps in the road. (Video first published October 11, 2022) “We get verbally assaulted all the time, we’re used to it. It’s a ticking time bomb.” Wilson hopes to see protective screens installed on Auckland Transport buses to shield drivers, along with more training for all personnel in the event of an attack . “Auckland Transport need to make a lot of changes.” Wilson said drivers are told not to engage in altercations with passengers, and instead allow them on to buses even if they say they cannot pay for the ride. When approached by Stuff, a spokesperson for Auckland Transport said that it’s working closely with NZ Bus and police following the incident. “We’re working to increase police visibility and security measures around trouble spots . “We’re also trialling protective screens that can be placed around the drivers’ seats, but that might take some time because we need to make sure we get it right as it’s quite a costly process,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said Wilson had received “de-escalation training” prior to the assault. NZ Bus, which contracts drivers out to Auckland Transport, will conduct a health and safety review into the incident. It will then be passed back to Auckland Transport, the spokesperson said. NZ Bus has been approached for comment. Police confirmed an ambulance was called to White Swan Rd in Mt Roskill at about 7.45pm on Saturday, after reports someone had been seriously injured. A 62-year-old man was arrested in relation to the incident and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.