Beggars are BANNED from asking for money within five metres of shops – as ‘gangs’ of panhandlers make up to $300 per day
- Towns on New Zealand’s North Island have introduced new bylaws
- The rules ban beggars from sleeping or asking for money near shops
- Charities are criticising the decision saying it isn’t dealing with the problem
- Business owners say beggars have negatively affected businesses and economy
Beggars will be banned from sleeping or asking people for money within five metres of shops after a controversial bylaw was introduced.
Tauranga, Greerton and Mount Maunganui on New Zealand’s North Island will be implementing the new law after reports of begging gangs making up to $300 a day.
Charities have criticised the decision saying it doesn’t deal with the problem and claims it will further marginalise vulnerable people.
Beggars will be banned from sleeping or asking people for money within five metres of shops after a controversial bylaw was introduced
Tauranga (pictured), Greerton and Mount Maunganui on New Zealand’s North Island will be implementing the new law after reports of begging gangs making up to $300 a day
They fear that relocating people from bright shop fronts will also be a safety hazard.
‘Instead of addressing the problem itself they’ve just tried to throw a blanket over it,’ housing advocate Shard Loibl told Newshub.
However, shop owner Daniel Hughes said that beggars have affected businesses and make shoppers feel unsafe.
‘It’s not beneficial to us to have somebody stopping our customers coming through the doors and making them feel like they shouldn’t be here,’ Mr Hughes said.
There have been reports of beggars acting aggressively towards shoppers in Greerton.
Mount Maunganui (pictured) will be implementing the rule after reports of begging gangs making up to $300 a day
Paul Abbey, who begs on streets in Tauranga, says he has no other choice as housing costs have forced him to live in a tent.
‘We’re still human beings, people need to survive somehow,’ Mr Abbey said.
He said he makes $20 to $30 a day, and that allows him to purchase food.