KEY POINTS:
People will cross the road, feign deafness and even lie to avoid street fundraisers, but like them or loathe them the cheerful do-gooders are here to stay.
The trend is said to have begun 10 years ago when Greenpeace sent a group of fundraisers on to the street to convince people to make regular monthly donations to the environmental charity.
Over the past decade other non-government organisations (NGOs) have followed suit.
It is hard to walk through central Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch without being bombarded by requests to save the animals or the planet.
Greenpeace community fundraising manager Igor Polakovic said the fundraising method was integral to funding with 85 per cent of the charity's income coming from street and door-to-door donation requests.
"The number of people and the time [hours spent] on the streets has stayed the same in the 10 years [since it began]."
In winter, 30 people work the streets of the three major cities with a small "travel team" moving between other cities.
The figure increases to 45 in summer and other cities become regular targets.
Mr Polakovic said the NGOs have set up a roster to prevent too many fundraisers being in the same place.
There are limited places suitable for street fundraising and they are wary of using one too much or having too many people in one place.
Regular spots are given a two-day rest period each week.
He said the NGOs were working hard to regulate themselves to prevent councils passing bylaws limiting their activity.
Greenpeace street fundraisers are paid an hourly wage, not commission, but have donation targets to meet. Like most jobs, there are behaviour and dress standards which must be met.
The street fundraisers cannot accept cash donations and Greenpeace prefers to receive small, regular donations rather than one-off lump sums.
Clementine Ludlow runs the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) which was established 18 months ago to self-regulate street fundraising.
The PFRA has a code of ethics for NGOs involved in street fundraising to follow, organises the roster and co-ordinates between councils, business associations, security companies and the NGOs.
Thirteen charities, including Greenpeace, Red Cross and Save the Children, belong to the association.
"[The fundraising is] incredibly important and it makes up 60-80 per cent of the fundraising income.
"If it wasn't successful they [the NGOs] wouldn't be doing it," Ms Ludlow said.
The PFRA regulates street fundraising only for long-term regular donations, not street appeals.
People who give on a regular basis "know they are doing their bit" and many stay signed up for "years and years and years".
Ms Ludlow said street appeals do not get the same amount as ongoing donations.
She has never had a complaint from a member of the public.
"Because these are big charities who have a huge reputation, how they're perceived by the general public is incredibly important.
"There's bound to be people who don't want us out there, or the public who probably do feel that we're a nuisance, but then at least they know that these people aren't just going to say 'oh, I'll go here today and there tomorrow' and it's all very regulated."
She said the response has been supportive and all the NGOs have, so far, followed the regulations.
- NZPA
