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A man will appear in court today after an Auckland bus driver was sprayed with a fire extinguisher. 

Police arrested a 32-year-old man last night and charged him with assault with a weapon and endangering transport. 

The alleged assault happened aboard the 27H bus south of Mt Eden Rd near Mt Eden Village, about 6pm on Tuesday. 

Passengers called the police and an ambulance, which transported the bus driver to Auckland Hospital to get checked out. She is now recovering at home. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill said a passenger allegedly became verbally aggressive towards the driver. 

“He allegedly sprayed the driver with a fire extinguisher before exiting the bus. 

“The driver avoided any significant effects, but she was understandably shaken by what occurred,” said Darvill. 

He said the man will appear in the Auckland District Court today. 

Police guard the scene where a bus passenger was stabbed in Orakei and later died. Photo / Hayden Woodward 

The incident is the latest assault on bus drivers, following a 2022 surge that has since dropped away with the introduction of protective driver screens and drivers not arguing with passengers who refuse to pay, according to New Zealand Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt. 

Auckland Transport (AT) is also fitting more than 70 buses with live CCTV cameras. 

The new technology will allow a driver to silently press a button to alert a CCTV operator to watch a potential assault or abusive behaviour. 

An AT spokesman said violent behaviour was “totally unacceptable”. 

Last month, Sefo Leger died after a passenger on a bus from Glen Innes to Ōrākei pulled out a knife and “initiated an attack on him”, according to police. 

Leger managed to get off the bus but died in hospital from his injuries. The suspected attacker stayed on the bus and allegedly attacked another man, who later needed surgery on his hand. 

A 36-year-old man has been charged with murdering Leger and wounding Gerard Katu with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.