Downtown Auckland - a bustling hive of tourists, corporate workers and a growing number of beggars and rough sleepers.
Last year Auckland Council introduced new regulations under its Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw, which aimed to reduce the number of beggars on the street.
The bylaw stated: "A person must not use a public place to beg, in a manner that may intimidate or cause a nuisance to any person."
However, retailers feel the issue of rough sleepers and begging has worsened.
Joy, a storeperson at Max Clothing, says she has seen an increase and she feels personally intimidated by them.
"I got bowled by a homeless person who purposely shoulder barged me - they definitely seem to be getting more violent."
Lia, who works alone at the Sunglasses Hut, agrees there seems to be more beggars in the past few months than ever before.
"They used to be just outside the convenience stores and Burger King, but now they sit right outside our store and it's really intimidating."
Auckland Council carried out an investigation into begging and sleeping rough and published a report in January this year.
The council said that out of those interviewed many said that sleeping rough was "out of choice", although that choice was often due to there being "no other options".
The council admitted that conflict arises when the public and private domains meet: "Rough sleepers carry out their private lives in public spaces due to the absence of a house."
Lia says this is what causes the sunglasses store the most problems.
"When I come into work they're rolling about in their blankets drinking casks of wine. One guy was smoking weed right outside our door so it was coming into the store."
Some of the rough sleepers interviewed by the council said they felt Auckland was getting smaller with "fewer places to go" and that they were often seen sleeping during the day because it was safer than during the night.
Joy says she hasn't noticed any increase in policing since the bylaw was passed.
"[The police] only seem to be talking to them. I think they need to be doing more."
Lia says the police need to be doing more to stop the begging and sleeping rough.
The council says the public have "a complex view of those who sleep rough", with many believing that "New Zealand's welfare system offered a safety net to all".
The council says rough sleepers find numerous obstacles in attaining a benefit and housing.
"Most people living on the streets do not possess formal documents such as birth certificates, driving licenses or passports and many do not have bank accounts - these are essential for accessing social services."
- This article was originally published on AUT's Te Waha Nui website.