Christchurch based National MP Nicky Wagner told The Press today that she has spoken to several taxi drivers and company owners since the murder of driver Abdulrahman Ikhtiari, an Afghan immigrant earlier this month. She said that “Several said they had people call who only wanted white drivers...You can say it’s a racist comment or say there’s a perception by the public that ethnic drivers don’t know the city as well so they end up driving longer to get to their destination.”

Wagner said that the taxi companies (who did not want to be identified) believed it was a racial issue and always told people they could not assign drivers according to their ethnicity. Wagner also spoke of horrendous stories about the abuse taxi drivers suffered, especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. “They are appalling stories; some have scars from the knives used on them.”

A large number of immigrants in New Zealand work as taxi drivers, including many professionals who can not get the New Zealand Qualifications authority to recognize their skills. Most people in Christchurch would not describe the city’s citizens as racist, Christchurch is however less ethnically diverse than other New Zealand cities such as Auckland. This is changing however, particularly through a growing Asian demographic. The city is likely to remain predominantly Pakeha (New Zealanders of European decent) for at least another twenty years or so based on current trends.

At this stage it is unknown weather the murder of Abdulrahman Ikhtiari was in any way racially motivated.