Businesses rally behind Wilson’s call to ‘take back the streets’

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

Streeties at Garden Place wash clothes, cook, and clean utensils in the public fountain.

Businesses that border Garden Place say it’s time to “take the streets back” from the anti-social street people who gather there.

On Monday, Waikato Times reported veteran Hamilton City councillor Ewan Wilson’s concerns about the issue. Wilson, who lives in the CBD, wants more action on anti-social behaviour in the central city, such as people bathing in the Garden Place fountain.

“We’ve lost control of Garden Place,” he said during a meeting to discuss the central city transformation programme.

On Monday staff at a nearby business said they won’t step outside during the day to avoid the sight of streeties “washing everything they can” in the fountain.

Caleb Linstron, of The Piercing Shop Hamilton, watches street people hitting a bong every morning when he opens shop at 9am.

This is followed by others, throughout the day, rocking around with trolleys full of clothes and personal items.

Caleb Linstron of The Piercing Shop Hamilton watches people on the street smoke from a bong every morning when he opens shop at 9am.

One woman - who’s become a permanent character in the block since the start of this year - washes her clothes then lays them on the ground, concrete and tables to dry.

She’s said to go through at least four to five set of clothes, assuming a different personality with it, every day.

A Waikato Times reporter saw her in three different dresses within an hour.

“I don't know what she's on, but she is never sober,” says Linstron.

“It makes everyone here really uncomfortable. I've had to tell parents, because we pierce a lot of children, to not let their kids go anywhere near that fountain, it is an absolute hellhole.”

Listron said the “disgusting” behaviour stops staff from going outside and he was also afraid of letting his dog out after one of the streeties joked about stealing it.

Caleb Listron said the ‘disgusting’ behaviour stops staff from going outside.

“If I had the opportunity to not work in the city centre, I would not work in the city centre.

“It affects everyone, the businesses and the people that are walking past.

“During summer, people want to come, hang out, sit on the grass, have lunch, chill out, and like actually have a nice time, and because there's constantly homeless people who drink and smoke drugs and huff glue and fight with each other, and you see it all and it's disgusting.”

A Waikato Times reporter saw this woman in three different dresses within an hour.

Linstron also mentioned another man who brings a butane stove to cook a whole feed in Garden Place. He does his dishes in the fountain.

Mat McLean, owner and chef of award winning restaurant Palate, said he had seen increasing drug abuse in Garden Place.

Mat McLean, owner and chef of award winning restaurant Palate, said he had seen an increase in drug abuse at Garden Place.

“We sort of open the doors and the smell of weed comes wafting in, it's just awful.”

The restaurant was also subjected to a fair bit of abuse, he said.

“You're trying to make an honest living and working hard, it's the last thing you need.

“It definitely doesn't help if you have a great night in a restaurant, and then you've got people harassing you for money as you're leaving and all that sort of thing.

“I think the root of the problem is deeper, but it definitely does affect the businesses.”

McLean said it was unacceptable that law-abiding citizens had people harassing them.

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams says she had seen many new faces hanging out permanently near their Garden Place office.

“We need to take our streets back.”

While his restaurant is guarded by Sky City security and has an underground car park, McLean felt sorry for local dairy owners and other businesses.

“They have people camped outside and every time someone goes in and out they're getting harassed.”

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams said they had seen many new faces hanging out permanently near their Garden Place office.

“Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to have been anything that has been looked at to disrupt the behaviour.

“There are a number of complex social issues at play, however, at the moment, I seem to be hearing more about what can't be done, rather than what can be done.”

Williams said businesses at Garden Place were paying rates and should be able to conduct their business in a safe and pleasant environment.

“Toward the end of last year, there was certainly a pick up in anti-social behaviour, but certainly now it does seem like there's more of a stay all day congregate [type of behaviour].

“Certainly since coming back into 2025, there seems to be a more permanent feel about it with whole tables and groups, and I understand there is a potential that they're here all night.”