'Streeties' feeling at risk after another killing in central city

Steven Harris.

Auckland's "streeties" feel increasingly at risk after a second homeless man in just over a month was killed in the city.

Steven Harris, 54, was stabbed in the upper body during an attack in Myers Park late on Wednesday night and died in hospital soon afterwards.

Police are yet to find whoever is responsible, and have cordoned off the entire park - an area the size of a city block - while they conduct a scene examination.

The park, in the upper CBD, is a popular place for Auckland's homeless to congregate. It is quiet and spacious and has several covered areas, but is still close to the hustle and bustle of the central city. This is also what makes it a dangerous place to be after dark.

None of the people spoken to by APNZ outside the Auckland City Mission last night knew Steven Harris well, but many had seen him around.

Edwin Linder, 42, was also killed in a CBD attack - in Mills Lane on August 3.

"It's more frightening for the older ones because they're the ones that are more vulnerable than everyone else - not as tough and strong and loud as they used to be," said one man.

He said he was often targeted, especially by nightclubbers in the small hours.

"I'll be sleeping in an alleyway and get a bunch of [drunks] coming up saying 'yeah here's a bum, that's what we need - a two-legged toilet, something to piss on'. That really sucks, especially when you're on your own and you can't do s*** because there's a whole bunch of them."

He said everyone who had slept on the streets would "definitely" have a similar story.

"It just sucks, watching our own lot getting wiped off," he said.

Another man said he knew Edwin Linder reasonably well, and used to help him out with food and clothes from time to time.

"We had some good times, me and Ed. There were some downfalls but he's gone now. He's in a better place."

Acting Detective Inspector John Sutton said several items of interest had been recovered from the scene of the killing.

Police wanted to speak to three Asian people - two men and a woman - thought to have been in the park at the time who may have witnessed the assault.

Others in the park saw Mr Harris fall to the ground and gave him first aid as they contacted emergency services.

Inspector Andrew Coster said Mr Harris had recently been living with a friend in Epsom, but before that he was living on the streets.