Camper must quit city pitch

Rangi Tikitiki has been living on the western side of Victoria Park in his tent for the last four months. Photo / Nick Reed

Inner-city in park-like surround with al-fresco dining opportunities, close to public transport and a short walk to the waterfront.

That's about as positive a spin as you might put on Rangi Tikitiki's home of four months in Victoria Park.

After a visit from Auckland Council on Saturday, Mr Tikitiki, 43, will find somewhere else to pitch his tent.

"Finally, they got around to here," he said, shortly after the council man had gone.

His stay was so successful he's wondering what public space to go to next.

The semi-permanent home poses logistical problems, though. He's been here long enough to accumulate more than can be carried away in one trip.

The tent itself is a self-admitted oddity in homeless circles. Others "don't want to waste their money on a tent", he says.

But Mr Tikitiki wants a home. Tired of "being a refugee in my own country", he's been on a waiting list for a Housing NZ home since before he began camping at the park. "The list is long. They reckoned there's like 3000 people waiting already."

He contrasts this with the increase in refugees New Zealand is taking from the Syrian crisis. If there's people here who need a home, shouldn't they be housed first, he asks.

Mr Tikitiki cooks on a gas stove outside the tent. In the morning, he watches workers arrive from the North Shore by bus. In the evening, as dinner is being prepared, he watches them line up for the homeward journey. "I give a wave and say 'how's it going'. It's a different thing for them to see. You meet some good people in this park."

Food is from the delicatessen at the New World supermarket across the road. He spends his $170 a week benefit money on more mundane supplies.

Auckland Council bylaws and compliance manager Max Wilde confirmed Mr Tikitiki had been told to move on, although he disputed the length of time he claimed to have been there.

"Auckland Council has only received two complaints about someone camping in Victoria Park and these were received this week. Our staff often drive past the location ... and believe he wasn't at this spot earlier."

He said council staff had checked "the camper" was registered with Auckland City Mission.

If he was there today, Mr Wilde said the council would work with the mission to "to help him find more appropriate accommodation".

Housing NZ referred calls to the Ministry of Social Development, saying it only dealt with tenants. It also said it no longer operated the waiting lists for its own houses.

An MSD spokeswoman said there were 4541 people "on the social housing register" - the name currently given to the waiting list.