Council's U-turn over secret meeting on 'anti-social behaviour' at bus hub
By reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Anti-social behaviour at Dunedin’s bus hub has led to a secret trial – including on-bus security, a previously public excluded council memo has revealed.
The bus hub on Great King St – the same street as the Dunedin Central Police Station – has made headlines for all the wrong reasons since it opened in March 2019.
The incidents, some of which were caught on video and supplied to Stuff, included a girl kicking a disabled man in the head, and teenage boys fighting each other. One Dunedin high school told its students to arrive at the hub just five minutes before their bus departed.
An agenda item, previously withheld from the public, reveals the council was seeking "approval for the continuation of the Dunedin bus network security trial for the remaining eight months of the 2023-24 financial year".
It noted an increasing volume of antisocial behaviour on the Dunedin bus network has been reported in the media, and to the council throughout the last year.
"The presence of a network of CCTV cameras, and a police station, in the bus hub has not significantly impacted these behaviours," the agenda item said.
"Anti-social behaviour in and around public transport settings is not unique to Dunedin."
Transport staff implemented a trial security presence at the bus hub, beginning December 2022, which has led to a decline incidents.
Further incidents in March 2023, and feedback from transport operators, led to the trial security services extended "to cover a targeted security presence on buses".
"They provide a visible presence to deter bad behaviour and are trained at de-escalation."
The funding allocated for the security trial is due to expire end-November 2023 and the council’s transport staff were seeking an extension of this trial to the end of the financial year.
The cuncil was asked to continue that security trial to June 30, 2024, at a cost of $126,000.
"Withdrawing the on-bus service increases the potential for driver assaults, robberies, and other incidents that have occurred over the past two years or more on the Dunedin network," the agenda said.
Poll: Have you ever been bullied?
People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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80.2% Yes
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19.5% No
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0.3% Other - I'll share below
Neighbourly Q&A: Renting rights with CAB's Sacha Green
We are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly. This week we have the amazing Sacha Green from Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) who will be answering your questions about your renting rights.
A little bit about Sacha:
She has been working for CABNZ for 10 years and is passionate about empowering people with knowledge of their rights as well as ensuring access to justice.
She helps support the team of over 2,000 trained volunteers who deliver the CAB service in 80 neighbourhoods around Aotearoa by providing advice and support at a national level on a wide range of issues. One of Sacha’s work areas is leading the CAB’s social justice work on housing and tenancy issues.
Whether you're a flatmate, landlord, boarder or flatmate, you can leave a comment below and Sacha will share an answer on Wednesday from 9.30am. You may want to ask about notice periods, bond fulfillment, reasonable rent increases, or even whose responsibility it is to deal with mould in the home.
Join Sacha here on Wednesday at 9.30am. See you then!.
⇩ Share your question below ⇩
Tips for moving to a retirement village with a pet
Moving to a retirement village marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities waiting to be explored. Naturally, you want to share this journey with your beloved furry companion, and at Ryman, you are welcome to bring your pet along, provided they are suitable for the village environment.
Once your pet is approved for the village, the focus shifts to ensuring a smooth transition for them. Dogs and cats, being creatures of habit, may find relocating stressful. However, with patience and a thoughtful approach, we can mitigate their anxiety and help them settle into their new surroundings seamlessly.
For more tips click read more.
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