Sticking up for window washers

KEEN: John Henry says there are worse things he could be doing to earn money than washing windows at traffic lights. PHOTOS/TANIA WHYTE

John Henry isn't ashamed he is making ends meet by washing windows at Whangarei traffic lights despite the potential of being taken to court.

After being laid off from his job as a paver at the end of December, the 26-year-old felt he had no other option.

"There's not a lot of work around," Mr Henry said. "This here is a brilliant way to fill the gap."

For the most part, people were happy for him to wash their windows, he said.

When the Northern Advocate visited Mr Henry at the intersection of Kamo Rd and State Highway 1, many motorists went out of their way to give him a wave or toot of the horn. He threw the long-handled brush up in the air like a baton twirler, not surprising as he has been washing windows on-and-off since 2009.

But not everybody is happy with some windscreen washers though with Whangarei District Council receiving 40 complaints about their actions in the past year, with the intersection of State Highway 1 and Rewa Rewa Rd - with safety concerns about young washers dodging traffic and reports of intimidation common - the main problem area.

Mr Henry would not say how much he earned but said it was enough to get by.

A couple of Christmases ago in Auckland, he was given a very generous present by one man. "He was like don't touch my car, here's $100."

Mr Henry said he would only continue washing windows until his single parent benefit came through in the next couple of weeks. He recently started taking care of his 3-year-old daughter full-time.

While Mr Henry said he knew what he was doing was illegal, there were worse things he could be doing to make money.

"As far as that I don't jump over your fence and steal your TV," he said. "If worse comes to worse, you get a bit of soapy water on your car."

Window washers had a bad reputation and there had been nobody to speak on their behalf before, Mr Henry said.

"That's my aim," he said. "Just to push the positive".

Council spokeswoman Ann Midson said safety was the most important issue with window washers at traffic lights was safety for all concerned. "We want people to feel safe from intimidation and harm in their vehicles, and we want to make sure window washers don't get run over."

The most frequent complaint was for the Rewa Rewa Rd and SH1 intersection though Otaika Rd, Kamo Rd and Central Ave also featured.

When problems were reported, the council asked the window washers to move on, she said.

"If a person doesn't move on, or is particularly difficult to deal with, the bylaw gives us the ability to take them to court, where a fine of up to $500 may be imposed," she said.

The council did not give instant fines.

"So far we have simply moved people on and have not taken any prosecutions, although we do have the power to do so and will if we feel the situation demands it," Ms Midson said.

If it is a state highway, it is the responsibility of the New Zealand Transport Association but, if it is a district road, the council's compliance contractors sort the issue.