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The government is preparing to require taxis to install either cameras or screens after a meeting with industry representatives.
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 7,000 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 says decisions are yet to be made but taxi companies prefer the camera option that has 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 says.
"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 include duress alarms.
Joyce says the industry understands the government will not pay for the cameras or screens as it does not pay for safety measures in other workplaces.
Whether all taxis will be affected - or just those who work at night or those who work in provincial centres - will be part of considerations, he says.
"Because it's 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 are working on a report which will be ready within four weeks, Joyce says.
"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 says mandating could be done by a rule change rather than new legislation. It is necessary to mandate because otherwise companies that do make efforts to protect their drivers will face a commercial disadvantage compared to those who do not bother, he says.
A penalty regime will be set up for those who do not comply.
Reddish says that in Australia screens have caused problems with comfort and communication and cameras have been much more popular.
In Queensland assaults on drivers have reduced 75% since installation and in recent times no serious incidents, he says.
Nelson City Taxis have already had on-board cameras for six months - and say it's been a huge success.
Nelson City Taxis spokesman Neil Allen says they have two cameras located in their cabs.
"All the footage is then recorded on a memory card which is in the boot of the car," says Allen.
Meanwhile, police are stepping up their hunt for Mohini's killer.
In a break from tradition, on Thursday they will be sending DVDs to inner city retailers to screen on their in-store televisions and they will also put up a billboard asking for help, which is a first for Auckland Central Police.
If you have any information that may help the police inquiry, call 0800 EDGEWATER (0800 444 014)
