It ain't always black and white

Valerie Schuler talks to Andrew, as a new scheme threatens his way of life as the man in our streets.
He is known on the streets as Andrew the Artist. His waking hours are spent on Queen St, absorbed in his drawing. Colourful wizards, elves and taniwha come to life on large sheets of scrap paper.
"I didn't watch television as a child and spent a lot of time reading, so I guess my imagination is better than most," says 41-year-old Andrew.
Andrew is homeless - at least in the conventional sense. He sleeps at night in a public car park, where he has built a makeshift home out of scrap building materials.
"It's a good arrangement. I keep an eye on it [the car park] at night and the people that own it don't mind me being there."
Councils and various social agencies are always discussing what to do with people like Andrew. The Coalition to End Homelessness is holding its first annual general meeting in March.
There's been talk of a loitering bylaw to stop the homeless sleeping in doorways or hanging around on Queen St. Plans for a "special circumstances court" are slowly taking shape.
We ask Andrew what he thinks.
"Once they identify you as a bum, they're on to you," he says. "I'm not really sure who a loitering bylaw is supposed to be helpful to. But a special circumstances court has got to be a good thing, otherwise we are continuously in trouble for silly things."
Andrew moved to Auckland from Tauranga about three years ago. He came for work, but blames a drug problem for much of his situation.
"That and a string of bad luck. I lost my job, then my car, which had all my belongings in it, got stolen. I had no idea what to do or where to go, but the old hands soon recognise someone in trouble and point you in the right direction."
Andrew applauds the work of the Auckland City Mission and Methodist Mission's Lifewise Centre. Through the help of Lifewise, he was able to attend a detox and counselling programme.
He's been off drugs for 31 days, his longest "clean" period in 25 years. "It gave me a look at what it feels like to be normal. Removing yourself from the situation and seeing things for what they are is huge."
Reluctant to beg for a crust, Andrew started drawing. His intricate works, which he either sells or gives away, are signed ArtSoul.
Many of his materials - an assortment of colourful pens and markers - are gifted to him by passers-by. He finds large bits of scrap paper in rubbish bins around the city. "My art is for me. It's something I've always enjoyed. I'd like to one day get off the streets and make a career out of it."
Getting rough sleepers off the street is also a continuing topic for officialdom. The Auckland City Council's Homeless Action Plan 2008-2013 aims to move people into permanent accommodation. The new coalition's vision is to end homelessness by 2020.
Lifewise Centre manager Corie Haddock says it's the only way forward, but Andrew is unconvinced.
"Good on them for trying, but I can't see it happening," he says. "There's homeless people in every city in the world.
"Until I'm permanently off drugs, it's hard to get my head around being back in society. I would also need a much bigger income. I have a lot of debt and pay child support."
For now, the streets are his home and the other rough sleepers are his family.
"I'm not unhappy and have found a niche for myself. I'm safe, warm and dry and have made some great friends on the street."
Special Circumstances Court
The Lifewise Centre has been working with the police on the Special Circumstances Court project for some time.
Based on similar models in Brisbane, the court is adapted to deal with repeat offenders who have special circumstances.
They might have a disability or other significant problems and be part of a "revolving door" situation at court - fines no longer mean anything to them.
The idea is based around the courts encouraging the homeless to get in touch with social services.
In exchange for evidence of progress, the court provides special sanctions and lighter sentences. A discussion document has gone to Chief Judge Johnson in Wellington for consideration.
Judges are talking with Australian counterparts  and there is an offer of the Chief Judge in Brisbane to visit Auckland to discuss how the court would work.