Central Wellington crime and safety addressed at packed public meeting

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

More than a hundred people packed a public meeting in May in central Wellington to address issues around crime, safety, housing and the need for more support services.

We need more solutions and we need them now.

That was the overarching sentiment heard at a packed public meeting held in central Wellington last night, to address a myriad of issues facing the city.

From crime, safety and a lack of social welfare services and housing, residents young and old, politicians, hospitality and social services representatives spoke of their increasing concerns that things are getting worse.

Hosted by National MP Nicola Willis, speakers at the meeting included Mayor Andy Foster, local hospitality veteran Matt McLaughlin, Inner City Wellington Residents’ Association chairman Stephen King, and National MPs Simon Bridges and Simeon Brown.

* MP Nicola Willis says she doesn't feel safe walking through central Wellington

* 'Worst I've seen in 20 years': Hospitality workers grapple with crime in central city

More than 100 people attended a meeting in central Wellington on Wednesday night focused around crime and safety.

The meeting comes amid rising concerns about issues facing the central city, many centred around crime and disorder.

Recently, police acknowledged the capital is “over-represented” in incidents of assault and disorder, with Area Commander Inspector Dean Silvester saying the suburb of Te Aro remained “the area of greatest concern” to police.

Some hospitality figures say the situation is the worst they’ve seen in 20 years and a report last year found anti-social behaviour was happening every hour of every day at Te Aro Park.

In March, Willis said she didn't feel safe in walking through central Wellington any more.

The meeting was hosted by National MP Nicola Willis, who previously said she no longer felt safe walking through central Wellington. National MPs Simon Bridges and Simeon Brown also attended and spoke at the meeting.

Two weeks later, hundreds rallied in the central city, calling on Wellington City Council, Government and hospitality to help change the culture of sexual violence.

Of the more than 100 residents who attended Wednesday night’s meeting, many stood up and shared their personal experiences of the changes they had seen in the central city.

Mayor Andy Foster talked about the solutions WCC has underway to address the complex issues, including a social contract, The Pōneke Promise.

A first-year university student said a recent alleged kidnapping of a Victoria University of Wellington student sent “shock waves to everyone living at the halls”.

“I have to admit I don’t feel safe living in my hall,” he said.

Another woman, Alice Ross, who has worked in hospitality for the past two years said she noticed a “considerable change” in how bouncers had taken up the role of enforcement officers and as a result, were putting themselves at risk.

An issue frequently raised was the decision to remove 50 volunteers who manned the city’s CCTV camera base last year, replacing them with a small handful of paid staff, a decision heavily criticised by the volunteers, who warned the job couldn’t be done well by only a few people.

King, who heads the Inner City Residents’ Association, believes some current issues are the result of systemic failures, such as poverty and the housing crisis.

A challenge he sees which “feeds into the issue” was the loss of warm, dry public spaces where people can go during the day, such as the central library.

Police were not present at the meeting, after being invited by Willis, but said they were working to address the issues.

Bridges, Willis and Brown said they were committed to finding solutions to the problems, and raising them at a Government level.

Others at the meeting criticised its “tone,” saying some people were speaking from a place of privilege, with a lack of knowledge of the city’s most vulnerable people and their situations.

Ali Hamlin-Paenga, chief executive of Kahungunu Whānau Services challenged the discussion at the meeting and called for the National MPs, Foster and WCC to invite them to the table to talk about solutions to the problems.

Kahungunu Whānau Services chief executive, Ali Hamlin-Paenga, said those working on the ground know a lot of people whose situations were being discussed in the room.

“We know them personally from the complexities they face in life.

“It saddens me you connect emergency housing with violence, with gangs. Behind all of that there are families, there are children and there are people that need support.”

She said support services like hers fly under the radar.

“Because we have work to do.”

Hospitality veteran Matt McLaughlin said the issues being seen in central Wellington currently were the worst he’s seen in his 28 years of working in the area.

She challenged the National MPs to “be the opposition that supports something, not fight it” and for Foster and WCC to invite them to get onboard with its new social contract for the city, The Pōneke Promise.

“You need us at the table,” she said.

Britney Marsh, manager of youth organisation Zeal, apologised that her voice was shaking – “I’m upset”.

“I feel disappointed in this conversation. The very people we are talking about don’t have a voice in this room.

“We can fund the police more, but we are just going to keep having this conversation for the next 10 years.”

She said more mental health support was needed.

Foster and McLaughlin both mentioned the range of solutions that are underway, including The Pōneke Promise, a new joint contract with a commitment by WCC, Greater Wellington Regional Council, hospitality operators, retailers, and police to take collective action to address crime and disorder.

On Tuesday, as part of the contract, a new community support space, Te Wāhi Āwhina was opened opposite Te Aro Park, which will provide a presence for key social agencies and a safe space for the city’s vulnerable communities.

McLaughlin said bars are currently working on a code of conduct for patrons and operators, a blanket trespass ban, employing a security liaison officer for all bars to work with and a uniform for all security staff, so they are easily identifiable.

Foster said council will look at improving public transport night services alongside GWRC and increasing street lighting.

Last month police said it would start cracking down on enforcing the liquor ban, with a focus on side-loading, where people purchase alcohol at off-licenses or bring it into the central city with them.