Stats NZ has had a security guard at the door of the Greys Avenue building since April, but it was not enough to make staff feel safe. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
A government agency is moving out of Auckland City because its staff members do not feel safe there.
Stats NZ will not renew its lease on the Greys Avenue building, where staff have reported anti-social behaviour on the street and around the entrance to the office.
It said the health and safety of workers was its priority.
They had dealt with antisocial behaviour - intoxication and calling out to staff, which had left workers feeling uncomfortable, unsafe, intimidated or upset.
Since April, it had a security guard at the door - but even was not enough.
On Greys Avenue, one resident told RNZ he felt safe on the street about half of the time.
"It's fifty-fifty, like five out of ten," he said.
"I don't unsafe, but there are times when it's like 'this is pretty dodgy'."
The resident said he was moving out, due to safety concerns and rents.
"They put the rent up, I don't think it's worth it, but also on top of it, at least once a week there's cops here," he said.
The resident described an instance where he had seen a car ram into a nearby building.
"It's all since when that opened up," he said, gesturing to the Kāinga Ora building further up the street.
Every worker has a right to feel safe, PSA assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
The Kāinga Ora Te Mātāwai building on Greys Avenue was completed in June 2023, and had a total of 276 apartments.
One worker on the street said they had not had any issues with the building or its tenants.
"I know there's the Kāinga Ora building across the road, but we don't have any problem with any of the residents there," she said.
"They're quite harmless."
Viv Beck, the chief executive of Auckland's central city business association, Heart of the City, said she was disappointed at the situation.
"We want people to be safe here and to feel safe, and to come and work, and live, and all of those things in a safe environment, so, very disappointing."
The Public Service Association represented more than 90,000 workers across central government, and said it was not not good enough that workers were not feeling safe.
PSA assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said Stats NZ had a legal and moral duty to ensure the safety of their staff.
"Staff at Stats NZ have raised concerns with us, we're pleased that the employer is taking the concerns seriously, including by encouraging remote working, and by the stationing of a security guards," she said.
"These are important measures to keep people safe."
Fitzsimons said every worker had a right to feel safe.
"Worker safety must be the top priority for all employers including Stats New Zealand, and we're working with them to support staff there, and to make sure appropriate steps are being taken."
Stats NZ will not be renewing its lease on its Greys Avenue building because its staff members do not feel safe there. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
In Auckland, Viv Beck said it was important something was done to address concerns, and pushed their calls for more safety measures in the city.
"This is our international front door, we've got over a million people here every week, and there's a lot of public and private investment going on," she said.
"Whilst we are doing everything we can locally, we do need to see that additional support in terms of increased visibility of police, downtown police station, better management of housing, and specialist addiction, mental health services for people who need it," Beck said.
"That's important that we actually get that right."
Beck said they had consistently lobbied the government for changes, and there was still more to do.
"We've been lobbying now for some time to have that cross agency approach from central government that supplements the work that's happening locally," she said.
"Those things are still relevant, and we do want to see more, even though we have seen police step up, it's important that we have a strong police presence and the social support for those who need it."
Beck said she would be keeping an eye on the government's Budget to see what additional support may be provided.
"Really what we're seeing and what we've been asking for, for a considerable period, is still relevant to support what is really a strong local effort between ourselves, police, council, doing everything we can, along with private sector support and the voluntary community organisations, we do need to see that additional support from central government."
Police area commander Grant Tetzlaff said reported crime in the Auckland CBD area has been growing over recent years, but had plateaued in the last six months.
In a statement to RNZ, Tetzlaff said police were working to help prevent alcohol-related disorder and crime.
He said they were working with business groups, the council, local MPs and residents' groups to help solve the issues in the city.
"The issues causing crime in the CBD can be complex in nature and involve a number of agencies and community partners," Tetzlaff said.
"For that reason, police cannot solve these issues alone."
Tetzlaff said with the help of the K Road Business Association, Heart of the City, Auckland Council, local boards, local MPs and residents' groups and increased officer staffing levels, police were focused on ensuring the central city was a safe place to live, work and visit.
