Editorial: Time to address begging

If you wander through Whangarei's mall, there sure are some variances in the type of musical soul food on offer. There is junk food. There is fine dining.

Some buskers aren't busking, they are begging while holding a guitar.

Begging is one of several issues under the spotlight at the moment as Whangarei reviews whether we should give ourselves sharper bylaws with a few more teeth.

Historically, begging has not been a huge problem for a town like Whangarei.

But in the past year, it's become more noticeable.

A gentleman who has fallen on hard times has taken to standing outside a Tikipunga shop cap in hand, or at his feet. He doesn't busk - he simply stands, hoping someone will drop a coin in his cap.

Then there are the cheeky supermarket trolley "helpers" who are asking Whangarei shoppers if they can take their trolley away for them, and then asking for money.

Throw in the winder washers at public intersections - it's begging in my view - and the lengths people are going to, to make a few dollars, has changed. And we haven't even mentioned the chancers who just bowl up and ask "got any spare change".

A workmate relates a story about how, while living in London, she refused to give coins to a lady asking for money "for a cup of tea".

After an attack of "the guilts", my friend purchased a cup of tea for the lady who replied "I don't want your ****** tea".

She was thirsty - but not for tea.

Examining council bylaws around something like begging indicates a change in society. If local government has to stick plasters on a social like this, then what is central government doing about it? With an election coming up, perhaps here's a question we can ask ourselves and our candidates that doesn't revolve around an art centre?