A new Heart of the City survey has found that most Auckland business owners believe the central city has become unsafe and uninviting due to anti-social behaviour, rough sleeping, and weak enforcement of by-laws.
Out of 102 respondents, 91 per cent said rough sleepers and begging were affecting trade, while 81 per cent felt the city centre was not in good shape to attract more people or investment.
Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) said police and council enforcement of existing laws was inadequate, and 77 per cent wanted a stronger police presence before the City Rail Link (CRL) opens in 2026.
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said the organisation “reluctantly released the survey to increase pressure on the Government and Auckland Council to improve the state of the central city.” She warned that without immediate action, businesses might not survive long enough to benefit from the CRL and other public projects.
Some proprietors say conditions have deteriorated to the point where staff and customers feel unsafe. Patrick Gamble, CEO of Perpetual Guardian, said his team has seen “public sex and frequent drug use” and faced “several occasions when staff were assaulted.”
Paul Ewing, owner of United Coffee Nation, said his café has dealt with “physical altercations,” and staff have issued “hundreds of trespass notices.” He added, “It scares people. You wouldn’t bring your kids up here … It’s made myself and my staff and my customers feel very very unsafe.”
Superintendent Sunny Patel said police have boosted visibility through the new Central Police Base on Federal Street and urged businesses to continue reporting incidents. Helen Robinson, Auckland City Missioner, said she supports a “safe, welcoming city for everyone” and called for more government leadership and better access to housing support.
As Auckland prepares for major openings in 2026, many businesses say the city’s recovery depends on restoring order and public confidence in its core streets.