Begging and rough sleeping ban one step closer in Tauranga

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Begging in Tauranga could see a court prosecution if a Tauranga City Council bylaw is approved.

Begging or rough sleeping within 5 metres of any Tauranga retail space could see the homeless facing court charges under a proposed bylaw.

Tauranga City Council voted 6-2 to add the 'begging ban bylaw' into the draft Street Use and Public Places Bylaw, which will go out for consultation this year.

Chief Imagination Officer at Te Tuinga Whanau Trust, Tommy Wilson is wanting members of the public to donate food and shelter rather than donations for street beggars (FILE).

The bylaw went against council's own advice which said banning rough sleeping is at odds with the council's own Community Wellbeing Strategic Plan according to a staff report.

It was also deemed to be 'unenforceable' by staff advisors who said court action would be the only way to enforce the ban.

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'Prohibiting rough sleepers from the city centre and/or other retail centres would likely shift them to residential or reserve land where they would be harder to locate and provide assistance, and would create additional safety issues,' strategic and policy planning team leader Melony Atkins's report to councillors read.

'A bylaw is not considered to be an appropriate or proportionate response to the perceived problem of the presence of rough sleepers.'

Begging has become a problematic in the Tauranga suburb of Greerton where 'begging gangs' have been known to use aggressive tactics.

There have been reports of the elderly having their prescription medication taken from them and standover tactics used to demand money.

Greerton Mainstreet's Sally Benning said the beggars' were causing some shops to close.

'It's [the bylaw] is a good step forward but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves,' she said.

'It is not the answer to the problem but it's another tool in the tool box.

'The beggars would not be there if people did not give them money.'

Councillor Terry Molloy said the intention of the bylaw was to send a 'strong message' to the community.

'I believe it's going to help everybody,' he said. 'It will help retailers in Tauranga who are really struggling to the point their doors are closing.'

Homeless providers have also been supportive of the proposed bylaw.

Te Tuinga Whanau Trust's Tommy Wilson said the bylaw will help beggars and rough sleepers.

'We are going to be set up to collect donations for beggars and deal it out as they are needed,' he said.

'This way beggars are engaging with us to collect money and we can assess their needs.'

Wilson said the bylaw sounds like an unkindness but it is much more effective then handing out coins.

'Kindness is only a kindness when it's effective,' he said. 'I think these bylaws will help.'

Bylaw wording

No person shall beg in a public place in a manner that is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress to any reasonable person
No person shall beg within 5m of a retail or hospitality premises
No person shall rough sleep within 5m of a retail or hospitality premises
Rough sleeping is defined as sleeping on the streets, pavements and anywhere other than in approved accommodation, with the exception of where the council has given approval.