Strumming his fate with his fingers pulls the cash

Brian Ripikoi earns more when he plays his ukulele. Photo / Janna Dixon

One of Auckland's most successful beggars has told how he can earn up to $100 a day - $36,500 a year - by strumming his ukulele.

Brian Ripikoi, 54, begs on city centre Queen St and Dominion Rd in Mt Eden, often wearing a distinctive Viking-style helmet.

He stays at a boarding house when possible, but said the homeless life was made easier by generous passers-by.

"It helps to have a bit of a personality. I can make up to $100 a day when I bring my ukulele and play. On an average day, it's more like $40.

"People are generous. I've had people come and give me $50 out of nowhere.

"It's hard I guess, but it depends what you call hard. It takes some concentration and control but it depends what you make of it."

One of the city's best-known beggars pulls in an estimated $22,000 a year for his efforts.

One-armed Manu Heketa, known to fans as The Statue Man, has been "working" in central Auckland for 11 years, and spends four hours, seven days a week standing still.

Heketa, who is on an invalid's benefits and flats in Glen Innes, was reluctant to divulge exactly how much he earns, but gave a clue.

"I started when I saw someone else doing it back in the 90s and thought 'I can do that', and they made between $30 and $130 a day, so there's a hint," he said. "Let's put it this way, I'm doing very well."

When pushed, Heketa said he earned between $10 and $20 an hour.

Assuming he collects the median $15, that equates to $60 a day or almost $22,000 a year.

If he worked a full eight-hour day, he could collect $43,680.

Although a decent income, it's nothing like Sydney beggar Ken Johnson, who pulls in a reported A$50,000 ($61,800) a year.

"Kiwis are generous but I don't think anyone would make that much here," Heketa said. "People give more money when the weather is fine because people are in a good mood, and it's always better to do it on Queen St because there are more pedestrians."

Auckland City Mission homeless services team leader Wilf Holt said people "certainly wouldn't" make close to $50,000 a year begging or busking in New Zealand.

But if they were smart about it - playing an instrument, performing an act or writing a funny sign - they could earn about $60 a day.

"Some guys have a good patch and a good pitch and some are very clever with their signs," he said.

"That strikes a chord with Kiwis who feel these people are contributing to their day in some way."

Holt said the Mission supported buskers with a licence from the Auckland City Council who gave the public a reason to hand over their money.

But while they might make some money, "chances are it's all gone by the end of the day".

"They might be on a benefit, but if they're staying at a boarding house the rent for one room in one week could be around $140, plus they might pay child support and have to buy food. It doesn't leave much."

Diana Ruth Himone, 42, regularly begs on Karangahape Rd in central Auckland.

She said it was difficult and she gets a lot of grief from pedestrians.

Living on the streets and the boarding house in Ponsonby, Himone has been a solvent abuser in the past, but said enough people treat her kindly that she can make $80 on a "very good" day.

Usually, she'll pull in between $20 and $40.

"People are quite generous. Sometimes people give me $50 in one go, but the most I usually make is $40 in a day."