The MP for Manurewa has confirmed that homeless people have been trespassed from the area.
Photo: 123rf
In the last few months homeless advocacy groups have said many vulnerable people have moved on from South Auckland because they were sick of getting trespassed.
Media were not allowed at a hui today attended by the advocacy groups, the Manurewa Business Association, and police.
After the meeting Manurewa MP Louisa Wall said the police confirmed they enforced trespass notices because businesses in the area had issued them.
She has asked businesses to work with social services instead of first issuing a trespass notice.
"Can they please come to my office, can they please come to Link People (a housing service) so that we can make sure [the homeless] are in the system," she said.
The Manurewa Business Association said it has always referred homeless people to social services since 2017, but it could not speak for non members.
Ms Wall said the hui was constructive and it was good to have all everyone around the table to work out the homeless problem in the area.
But she did not support calls for a drop in centre as a primary solution.
It was important to register people first with Link People.
"Our first priority is to make sure that people are in the system so that they're in a queue, I know that sounds bucreatic but actually that's what the whole government/Auckland Council response has been about," she said.
The different parties have agreed to regular meetings to come up with the best solution to homelessness.
