The Auckland Council is heartless, says an a homeless advocate fighting back against a decision to move six homeless people out of a bus shelter they have occupied for months.
For five months Gordon Robinson and five other homeless people have been living in an Auckland bus stop.
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Kitted out with tarpaulins, sheets and beds, it has become their home.
But council workers and police have started ripping out the makeshift construction and throwing it away.
"Gutted aye. They you know, they are taking our property. Too many times they are taking stuff that is personal, photos of my kids," said Mr Robinson.
But Auckland Council say the bus stop has become a safety hazard.
"It's our perception that the situation, particularly around cannabis and intimidation is getting worse and we have no doubt been looking at that," said Ian Maxwell, Auckland Council's Community Services Director.
Police and council sources have told Newshub that many of those living at the bus stop were doing drugs and were aggressive. They fear someone will die there.
During the clean-up, one council worker accidentally stabbed themselves with a bloodied syringe.
One group living in a South Auckland bus stop have been moved on four times, from Mangere, to Manuwera, to Hayman Park, and then Puhinui Park. Now they are being moved again.
"Police just came and grabbed everything. All our clothing, everything and we ended up with nothing," said Remati Kaipo.
Homeless advocate Michelle Kidd said the council talks about helping the homeless, but privately it's doing the opposite.
"These are the only things that these people actually have," she said. "They're being raked out of a bus shelter but we can't as a city provide a night shelter".
But Mr Maxwell says the council's role is not to move people on.
The council is currently funding a night shelter in Freemans Bay, but that won't be finished until early next year.
"It's a hard life living on the street living rough like this. I experienced this for the last 14 months," said Mr Kaipo.
While the government has set aside a hundred million dollars for extra beds, social services Newshub spoke to said there's now more demand than ever and there still just isn't enough housing.
Mr Robinson has since been found a home, but as night falls, his mates are still without a proper roof over their heads.
Newshub.
