Auckland Council will consider a recommendation to make begging illegal under a new bylaw. One of the groups behind the proposal say beggars intimidate people in shopping streets, another group says they don’t want to be fascists but a small number of aggressive beggars ruin it for the rest.
The Auckland Council is today voting on a bylaw which could see beggars, illegal windscreen washers and buskers banned from the streets.
Auckland City Mission's Diane Robertson says the bylaw is welcome, providing it is not misused.
She says the bylaw is about ensuring everyone feels safe.
"Everybody has theright to walk down the street and feel safe.
"I think on the same part, homeless people, people who are begging (and) people who are different are a part of our community, and so they have a right to do what they're doing.''
