Wellington, Jan 31 NZPA - A post mortem has confirmed a taxi driver killed overnight had been stabbed.

Police this afternoon named the victim as Hiren Mohini, 39.

Police believed Mr Mohini, a driver for Auckland Co-Op Taxis, had picked a man up about 1.20am in central Auckland before the taxi crashed into a tree in View Road, Mount Eden at 1.23am, Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones, the officer in charge of the investigation, said.

Witnesses saw a man running in the direction of Esplanade Road about the time of the crash.

Police were trying to locate him and establish his identity, Mr Jones said.

He was described as a slim, dark-skinned man in his mid to late twenties, 1.74m tall. He had long, greasy wavy or curly hair, which was swept back from his forehead.

He was wearing dark jeans, black shoes, a long-sleeved shirt and carrying a black bag with a strap.

Mr Mohini died at the scene.

A post mortem examination today revealed he had been stabbed in the upper torso, Mr Jones said.

Police were tonight interviewing several witnesses, including View Rd residents.

The police cordon in the area was lifted this afternoon.

Forensic specialists investigated at the scene and the taxi had been taken to Auckland City Police Station for further forensic examination.

Police were also accessing security footage to examine.

The kind of weapon used to kill Mr Mohini was not yet known, Mr Jones said.

Mr Mohini lived in Mt Roskill and was married with two daughters, aged five and two.

Police want to hear from anyone with information and had set up an number 0800 441 014, specifically for the investigation.

Auckland Co-op Taxis chairman Ian Graham said Mr Mohini had been well liked during his three years with the company.

"He was a very quiet, reserved gentleman," he told Radio New Zealand.

"A true family man, loved his family, and all he was doing was going about trying to earn an honest living doing a public service."

Several employees were at Mr Mohini's home today supporting his family.

Other taxis had arrived at the scene of the crash within minutes after an internal emergency device inside the taxi was triggered on impact.

The noise woke residents who rushed to help and remove him from the vehicle.