{"id":379886,"date":"2026-04-15T01:35:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/379886\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T01:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:35:24","slug":"fears-after-council-targets-people-living-in-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/379886\/","title":{"rendered":"Fears after council targets people living in cars"},"content":{"rendered":"

Council staff and police have targeted people living in cars at Tauranga\u2019s Sulphur Point after complaints about antisocial behaviour and roaming dogs.<\/p>\n

By Ayla Yeoman of Local Democracy Reporting<\/p>\n

Dog control and vehicle licensing fines were issued during Monday\u2019s operation.<\/p>\n

One homeless person, Samantha Bradley, provided a video of a vehicle being towed. Her own dog, Marley, was taken from her because it was not registered.<\/p>\n

She said this made her feel unsafe, and she had nowhere else to go.<\/p>\n

\"Tauranga<\/p>\n

Tauranga vehicle-dweller Samantha Bradley said council staff and police took her unregistered dog, Marley, from her. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

Tauranga City Council said the enforcement followed months of engagement, warnings and complaints from nearby residents about antisocial behaviour and was carried out under national legislation.<\/p>\n

Homeless advocates say the action has increased fear and anxiety within the community, pushing people into other suburban and public spaces without adequate support.<\/p>\n

The operation also comes amid wider national debate, with the Government proposing new police “move-on” powers targeting rough sleeping and antisocial behaviour \u2013 legislation that homeless advocates strongly oppose.<\/p>\n

Affected woman speaks out<\/p>\n

“There’s zero places to go,” Bradley told Local Democracy Reporting.<\/p>\n

She said displacement was pushing people into suburban areas and places near schools.<\/p>\n

Bradley said she was a kiwifruit orchard supervisor before Covid-19. She wanted to work her way out of homelessness, but was struggling due to the number of fines she had received.<\/p>\n

\"Vehicle-dweller<\/p>\n

Vehicle-dweller Samantha Bradley shows the notices of fines she received on Monday morning. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

She said three new fines brought her total to about $1400.<\/p>\n

These fines were for her unregistered Subaru car and unregistered dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to get back to being a legit person. I\u2019m in the process of doing my KiwiSaver application.\u201d<\/p>\n

She questioned where she could legally go with an unregistered car.<\/p>\n

She suggested allowing vehicle-dwellers to stay overnight and leave in the morning, to reduce disruption while giving homeless people a lawful place to sleep.<\/p>\n

Council outlines its position<\/p>\n

Tauranga City Council regulatory and community services general manager Sarah Omundsen said the council approached the situation with care and consideration.<\/p>\n

\"<\/p>\n

Tauranga City Council regulatory and community services general manager Sarah Omundsen. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

She said the site had attracted repeated complaints about antisocial behaviour, rubbish and roaming dogs.<\/p>\n

She said some of the people concerned had been occupying parts of the reserve for more than a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil staff engaged with eight individuals in relation to issues involving vehicles and\/or dogs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring these conversations, people were advised that any unregistered dogs could be impounded and any immobile vehicles may be removed.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said three dogs were impounded. One dog was released the same day after being registered.<\/p>\n

\"Tauranga<\/p>\n

Tauranga City Council vehicles present at Sulphur Point for the removal of homeless people. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

She said people at the site had been repeatedly warned that enforcement would follow if vehicles remained illegal or dogs unregistered.<\/p>\n

She said fines were issued under national dog control and vehicle licensing laws.<\/p>\n

This is a national legal requirement, and no written or verbal warning is required; however, council staff verbally advised individuals of these requirements “on multiple occasions”.<\/p>\n

“We understand the very real challenges facing people experiencing hardship or homelessness, and this situation is not taken lightly.<\/p>\n

“We encourage any person experiencing hardship or homelessness to contact support services, such as the Ministry of Social Development, which can help connect people with the appropriate support and accommodation options.”<\/p>\n

She said the people were not directed to move to any specific location.<\/p>\n

“Some individuals chose to leave the area to avoid potential enforcement action.”<\/p>\n

The council, in a statement, did not answer Local Democracy Reporting questions on vehicles being towed and how many fines were issued.<\/p>\n

Te Papa ward councillor Rod Taylor said he had been leading the push to get the area “sorted out” since before Christmas.<\/p>\n

\"Te<\/p>\n

Te Papa ward councillor Rod Taylor. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

“Essentially, it was becoming a very dysfunctional area.”<\/p>\n

He cited dog attacks, mental health issues and other serious incidents.<\/p>\n

He said about 15-20 people were living in their cars in the area and they had been there for several years.<\/p>\n

A “wrap-around” group planned the removal earlier this year, but the Mauao landslide delayed action.<\/p>\n

Taylor said the overflow carpark had been used as a camp during summer despite signs showing this was not allowed.<\/p>\n

\"<\/p>\n

The overflow carpark at Sulphur Point. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

He said this was not enforced, but the carpark would shut for winter.<\/p>\n

He said a similar operation happened at Arataki Park three weeks ago, after complaints from residents.<\/p>\n

He said several other places were on the council\u2019s radar.<\/p>\n

Tauranga Marina manager Greg Prescott said the marina had been pushing the council to move homeless people from Keith Allen Drive.<\/p>\n

\"Greg<\/p>\n

Greg Prescott, manager of Tauranga Marina Society. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

He cited alcohol and drug use, abuse and mess.<\/p>\n

“We have a lot of foreign folks coming into the marina from all over the world, and it’s a really bad look.”<\/p>\n

Police acting area commander Inspector Zane Smith said staff were present to support council staff and did not intervene.<\/p>\n

Homeless people anxious: Advocate<\/p>\n

Awhina House co-chairperson Angela Wallace said the community involved was feeling anxious, unwanted and targeted.<\/p>\n

\"Awhina<\/p>\n

Awhina House co-chairperson Angela Wallace. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

“They\u2019re on edge that their stuff is going to be all packed up and taken away or that they\u2019ll be forced to move on,” she said.<\/p>\n

“They’re already in a position where they’ve got nothing.”<\/p>\n

She said people who had been moved on were turning up at suburban neighbourhoods and community centres, spreading the issue into other areas.<\/p>\n

She said it would have been great if there had been some support for them rather than “some seemingly harsh actions being taken to move them on”.<\/p>\n

“I feel for her [Bradley] because she\u2019s a single woman living in her car. She’s quite vulnerable.<\/p>\n

“The only protection she has is her dog; it’s been taken from her.”<\/p>\n

\"auranga's<\/p>\n

auranga’s Sulphur Point boat ramp. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n

Wallace said the Government should abandon the move-on order legislation it proposed earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The Government has proposed giving police move-on orders that would target disruptive, disorderly or intimidating behaviour, rough sleeping and begging.<\/p>\n

It will amend the Summary Offences Act, and the police will be provided with the power to issue the orders once the legislation has been passed.<\/p>\n

The legislation has not yet been introduced to Parliament.<\/p>\n

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.<\/p>\n

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a surprise run from a former All Blacks captain, and Air NZ reveals the cost of its latest sleep innovation. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Council staff and police have targeted people living in cars at Tauranga\u2019s Sulphur Point after complaints about antisocial…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":379887,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[67,9437,111,43,139,69,1756],"class_list":{"0":"post-379886","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-crime-and-justice","9":"tag-homelessness","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-newzealand","13":"tag-nz","14":"tag-tauranga-bay-of-plenty"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}