Shelley H.
Google
Spending 2 nights just off Queen St near Civic Theatre. I was born in Auckland, moved away then came back and lived for a few years as an adult in the 90’s. I loved coming into the city, shopping, dining and wandering around, it was vibrant and wonderful. Now 28 years later I am appalled at the state of the place, I walked up and down Queen Street last night 4-6pm and must have seen 30+ homeless people living rough in doorways and calling out to me as I walked past (they choose to not go to shelters because they can’t drink or beg there right?) Also lots of homeless drunks, (a group of them came into the supermarket Countdown and acted like they own the place), I actually started to feel unsafe to be honest! Garbage all around, shops abandoned and boarded up. The stunning IMAX theatre complex now a wasteland taken over by skateboarders. What a terrible first impression for our much needed tourists ‘Welcome to New Zealand’ what a disgusting image. Auckland CC should be ashamed! The derelicts, homeless and bums need to be moved on and there needs to be a police presence on the beat patrolling. The city centre of our largest city should be something to be proud of. Message to our tourists: please move on, go to Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and all the wonderful places in between, Auckland is not a true representation of our beautiful country.