Inner city residents and workers gave their thoughts in the wake of a newly released survey from the central city business association Heart of the City. <\/p>\n
The survey showed store owners and offices believed homelessness, too few police, neglect and disorder and frightening anti-social behaviours were crippling their trade. <\/p>\n
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told the Herald when presented with the survey results that there are \u201cno simple solutions to complex problems\u201d and insisted things have been improving under his governance.<\/p>\n
Central city worker Eva said she felt safe as she spoke standing outside Britomart, \u201cbut I feel like in the middle of Queen St, it\u2019s a little bit unsafe\u201d. <\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI just feel like [there are] a lot of dodgy people sometimes. Sometimes you will feel like there are a lot of homeless people on the street and then you will feel a little unsafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try to avoid walking there. Especially after, you know, a few years ago, there was a shotgun [fired] in the middle of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aucklanders say their central city feels unsafe, particularly at night, with homelessness, dirtiness and \u201cdodgy people\u201d scaring some away. Photo \/ Dean Purcell<\/p>\n
Another woman, who did not give her name, said she felt safe \u201cduring the day, yes, but [at night] definitely not\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount of people who are homeless – it\u2019s not their fault, they\u2019ve got to have somewhere to go – but it\u2019s not very pleasant walking past and being shouted at for money, and then if you can\u2019t give money, how horrible they are.<\/p>\n
A third woman, Bridget, agreed she felt safe in the day, but \u201cnot at nighttime, no, not at night\u201d. <\/p>\n
Another woman told the Herald, \u201cWe\u2019re a little bit lucky [speaking from Britomart] because we\u2019re close to where the cruise ships come off, but the rest of the city is probably not great.\u201d <\/p>\n
One woman named Jane said she did not come to the city in the evening, but \u201cduring the day, I love Auckland City\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s vibrant, it\u2019s full of beautiful people, beautiful culture, an absolutely magnificent city, the best place in the world to live.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jane said it was \u201csad that society has got to that\u201d, referring to the homelessness in the city. <\/p>\n
Central city worker Allan said he felt \u201ca little bit nervous with everybody who\u2019s just hanging around there\u201d when he walked up Queen St, and he said parts of the street were untidy. <\/p>\n
Another central city worker, Dave, said the Government \u201cshould be paying more to help people with low incomes, mental health problems or homelessness\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any solutions, myself, and I know psychiatric hospitals never worked; there was abuse there. Some people are incapable of looking after themselves [and need] some help.\u201d<\/p>\n