Auckland Transport (AT) workers have been spat at on two separate occasions by lockdown flouting New Zealanders trying to use public transport.
On Friday morning a woman joy-riding one train spat at three transport officers after she was told to get off. On Wednesday a similar incident occurred when a man spat on a security guard working for AT.
AT chief executive Shane Ellison says the "appalling" behaviour is "totally unacceptable".
"We have staff working day and night to keep public transport operating and it's distressing when they come under attack from members of the public," Ellison says.
"It's quite disturbing that a few people are acting like idiots, we've been getting some great feedback about the efforts that we have been making to get people around the city in these tough times but to have incidents like this is quite upsetting."
He says the workers have had to go into self-isolation as a result of the abuse.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has slammed the behaviour, which is putting essential workers at risk during the pandemic.
"That sort of behaviour is disgusting at any time, but at a time with COVID-19 it's also dangerous behaviour," Goff says.
"The individuals should face the full penalties under the law and I have no doubt that the police will be taking this matter very seriously."
During New Zealand's alert level 4 all AT's public transport is free, but it is only to be used by essential workers and the public completing essential errands such as medical appointments and food shopping.
"Our thanks go to our essential transport staff and all of the key workers across Auckland and New Zealand who are working tirelessly at some risk to their personal safety to ensure that the services we all rely on can continue to function throughout the lockdown," Goff says.
Newshub has received reports of supermarket staff, police, transport officers, health care staff and the defence force being abused as they work hard to keep the country running.
One supermarket checkout member told RNZ's Checkpoint there have been daily tears, racial abuse and in some cases- violence.
"I've had a few bad experiences since COVID-19 came to New Zealand," the supervisor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.
"We've had people throwing things at us, spitting at us, swearing at us, putting us down, calling us names, being racist to us as well.
"I had a male come in… he threw a basket at me because there was nothing on the shelf."
In Taranaki, a man was arrested for deliberately spitting on officers.
The man appeared in New Plymouth District Court on March 9 and was sentenced to three months in jail for aggravated assault.
The New Zealand Defence Force's Devonport navy base also briefly banned members wearing military uniforms in public after a staff member was abused while shopping at a local supermarket.
