Podcasts about Auckland Council

A heated dispute between dog owners and Auckland Council is playing out at the High Court in Auckland. Last year, the Puketapapa Local Board voted four to two to ban dogs from running free in part of Hillsborough's Monte Cecilia Park. Locals set up a formal group, the Monte Cecilia Dog Lovers Incorporated Society, which is roughly 600 members strong, to challenge the decision with a judicial review, which began today. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Councils are renewing calls for an overhaul of dog-control legislation after a second serious dog attack in a week. Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance Robert Irvine spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

This morning we spoke to the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; We spoke to Auckland Council, they're asking for the government to do more about dog control laws; There's pushback from homeless advocates following the government's new move-on laws, we spoke to Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson; Julie White from the Travel Agent's association joined us as confusion grows over UK passport and visa requirements; And, we spoke Shaun Robinson from the Mental Health Foundation about the rise in weather anxiety.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has outlined changes to housing densification plans for Auckland - with cabinet agreeing to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million. The U-turn comes after Auckland Council had been progressing a new plan to accommodate up to 2 million homes in the coming decades.

Well, finally Chris Bishop has done the right thing and made the u-turn on the two million new houses he had planned for Auckland. It's not altogether a surprise that he did this and announced it this afternoon, because it's been rumoured for months - for the obvious reason that it's election year. Auckland is a key battleground. Aucklanders are obsessed with houses. Auckland voters who own their homes were already stressed about this plan, and if it turned into a full election issue with proper media coverage, even more of them would've become stressed. That would mean blue Auckland voters heading straight to New Zealand First, ACT or Labour. So it was a political problem for National and Bishop had to back down. But in reality, it's not just politics, is it? It's basic common sense. I think it's reasonable for an Aucklander who has sunk one to two million dollars - maybe more, maybe a bit less, but still a lot of money - into their home to feel stressed at the idea of a multi‑storey apartment block popping up next door, blocking their view, blocking their light, ruining their privacy. Whatever it is. We mock these people as NIMBYs, but actually, I think it's fair for them to want to protect the place they live in. Don't you want to protect the place you live in? This battle, though, is far from won. Anyone looking at this and thinking, “That was a close call, thank God that's over,” - it's not over. All Bishop has done is reduce the number of new houses to the point that it shouldn't impact on suburbs. But whether it does affect suburbs is a decision for Auckland Council, and that decision hasn't been made yet. So while it should, on balance, be okay, nothing is certain until the Auckland maps are released. What this is, then, is one u-turn down, and one more to go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland City Counsellor says the Government's plans for the CBD won't be clear for a while. It's reducing the proposed homes allowed in the Supercity from 2 million to 1.6 million. The revision to new density rules will focus more on builds in the central city and around key transit hubs, than in suburban areas. Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker told Ryan Bridge he doesn't think it'll please everybody and isn't the silver bullet some people have been asking for. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electrofishing technology is being utilised to keep Auckland's Western Springs Lake pest-free. Electrocurrents are being used to stun pest fish and turtles so they can be scooped up, brought to land and killed, with no native species being harmed in the process. Auckland Council senior freshwater ecologist Matthew Bloxham says too many people are getting rid of their old pets when they become inconvenient - with many dumping them in Western Springs. "These things become enormous and they're incredibly fecund animals, they're breeding machines. We call them habitat modifiers...what we're trying to do at Western Springs is give the natives a chance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council's planning has been thrown for a loop after what looks like yet another government-imposed rule change over housingGovernment interference in planning rules for Auckland housing has reached new heights with another u-turn frustrating the councilGuests:Richard Hills- North Shore Councillor Kristen De Monchy- Sandringham residentPhilip Bradley- Sandringham residentLearn more:Read more about Richard Hills and intensification on RNZ NZ Initiative opinion piece on the intensification rowAuckland Council clarifies the 2 million myth Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A major milestone has been met in Auckland Council's bid to reduce the number of roaming dogs - with 1000 dogs desexed for free. Auckland Council's Manager of Animal Management Elly Waitoa spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Right, it seems there's a very good chance that Tauranga City Council is going to have the inquiry they've launched taken off them and run by the Government instead. The Government hasn't actually said those words out loud just yet. What they have said is that there is a strong case for a Government inquiry. But you can read between the lines here - they're preparing us, and probably most importantly preparing the Tauranga City Council, for the fact that they, the Government, are going to run this inquiry. And they should be the ones running it. The council can't investigate its own actions like it's planning to do. No one is going to believe the council if it concludes the council has done nothing wrong - if you follow what I'm saying. And there are plenty of reasons to think the council may actually have done quite a lot wrong here. From the 111 call they claimed wasn't forwarded to them - until they realised, whoopsie, yes it was - through to reports that council staff were at the campground before the slip but didn't evacuate everyone, to the possibility that they were involved in clearing trees above the slip site. Now that, by the way - the trees issue - is potentially quite significant. It looks very much, if you compare the photos, like trees, probably pōhutukawa, were cleared from the site above the slip sometime between 2017 and 2019, probably to stop myrtle rust. If this is what happened - if the council stuffed up by removing trees and not replacing them, when everyone knows that plants stabilise the ground, and if the council was warned about slips in the hours before they happened and ignored those warnings, then they should carry the can for that. I have seen - and I don't know if you've been seeing this too - but I have seen too many councils, lately, get away with dropping the ball. Auckland Council having drinks while the city was flooding three years ago. Hawke's Bay Regional Council being begged to open the bar to prevent Wairoa from flooding, not opening the bar, and - guess what - Wairoa flooded. If no one is ever blamed for the things they do wrong before an event, then nothing changes. So the Government's on the right track here. They need to take over this inquiry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And here we all are, another summer, and while for many people it was fun in the sun and family catchups, for others it was dealing with floods and landslides. Specialised crews are still working, and will be working for some time yet, on recovering the bodies of the missing Mount Maunganui campers. Families are mourning the loss of a Welcome Bay grandmother and grandson killed in another Bay of Plenty landslip, and around the country communities are dealing with being cut off from main thoroughfares and facing lengthy drives to access any kind of amenities, probably counting their lucky stars that their family members are not among the dead and injured from this year's summer storms. It's horrifying, but it's not unexpected, is it? Ever since humans have attempted to tame the environment around them, they've had to deal with the fact that often they will come off second best. So, do we need to rethink how and where we build our communities? It's the definition of madness to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results, and yet that is what we do. Cabinet's meeting this morning and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking they'd be discussing the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to fix major roading damage from this year's summer storms. Last year they met to discuss the hundreds of millions of dollars that would be needed to fix roads, the year before that they needed to fix kilometres of roads around the country, and that too would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. A large part of the Waioeka Gorge, which connects Gisborne and Bay of Plenty, will be closed for several weeks to clear slips from the roads. Farmers in the region are calling for a plan B and a more resilient road network because they say they can't handle being cut off from the rest of the country every 18 to 36 months. There are some communities that are looking at other options, rather than rebuilding every time there are floods and doing that every 18 to 36 months. You've got the town of Westport that's looking at a long-term managed retreat strategy, where they're not going to build a new town per se, but gradually any new projects will be built on higher, safer ground away from the severe flood risk, and there'll be plans for a new hub and infrastructure to encourage gradual relocation over generations. There's also a proposal to shift Kumeū's town centre over a number of years. That was tabled by the Auckland Council around about this time last year. A proposal to shift Kumeū and Huapai area because it has a repeated history of flooding, and yes, you can pay the higher insurance rates and you can rebuild and do it again and again, but why would you if there is an alternative? Infrastructure proposals are also being put forward, but a number of community leaders are saying it's pointless, it's putting your finger in the dyke. The better option is to concede defeat and build somewhere else. Certainly there are ways to mitigate damage from flooding and landslips, there are ways of predicting which areas are more prone to flooding and landslips, technology's improving all the time. In some instances though, do we just need to acknowledge that we are no match for the power of nature, concede defeat and step away? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manager of Auckland Council's Kitchen Project Connie Clarkson joins me now with a divine sounding dish. The recipe is here

Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity. Auckland Council's Park & Community Facilities General Manager Taryn Crewe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Finance minister Nicola Willis has ended the year on a high with a surprise 1.1% increase in GDP for the most recent quarter; Gloriavale's leaders have announced they'll challenge the forced closure of its school; Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh; One News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and former All Black captain Taine Randell discuss this weekend's sport action.

Isolated, lonely and far from support network, that's what people who are homeless say it's like living in Auckland's suburbs. An Auckland Council audit found over 400 people were living without shelter in September last year. In May this year, that number was over 800. And a Salvation Army Report released yesterday found homelessness in Auckland has more than doubled in the year to September. But these figures don't capture all the people sleeping rough in suburban areas - living in their cars, abandoned buildings or couch surfing. Experts are calling for more funding to find out the true extent of the problem as the government ponders introducing move-on orders to get rough sleepers out of the CBD. Bella Craig reports.

From Dec 27 to Jan 18, all train lines across Tāmaki will be shutting down for summer maintenance, a closure which is expected to be the last of its kind ahead of the opening of the City Rail Link.  The current measles outbreak in Tāmaki is being continually monitored, with exposure sites being updated daily on info.health.nz. The public are encouraged to track whether they've been in possible contact with the virus, and get up to date on any vaccinations to limit possibilities of transmission.  Auckland Council are supporting arts initiatives across the summer months, with Music in the Park kicking off in early January, and Movies in the Park following in February.  Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics, and also asked for comment following the attack by two gunmen at Bondi Beach earlier this week.

Auckland Council has scrapped a trial of fortnightly rubbish collections after a backlash from affected residents. Council's Policy, Planning and Development Committee chairperson, Richard Hills.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel; It has been a big year for the country's education sector with a number of major changes; Auckland Council has scrapped a trial of fortnightly rubbish collections after a backlash from affected residents; A local board election has been voided, and voters will have to go back to the polls, after a judge ruled fraudulent voting had "permeated or infected" the election.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 16 December 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis defends the state of the Government books, despite surplus being pushed out and debt growing more than previously predicted. The Bondi hero who tried to stop the two terrorists is fighting for his own health in hospital. Ryan Bridge speaks to a woman who has been by his bedside. A lawyer convicted of groping law students at a Russell McVeagh Christmas Party has been cleared to return to practicing law. Ryan asks the victims' lawyer Steph Dyhrberg how she feels about James Gardner-Hopkins getting a second chance. Auckland Council has listened and voted down a trial to move to fortnightly rubbish collections. Plus, the Huddle reacts to news that Ruth Richardson has officially pulled out of the big debate against Nicola Willis. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council's trashing a plan to trial fortnightly rubbish collection - but the idea hasn't yet been removed from the picture. The trial would've included 10,000 households in Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure, Tamaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth. Of more than 5,000 submissions, 78 percent opposed the trial. Councillor Daniel Newman says the possibility for fortnightly collection lives on in the current Waste Management Minimisation plan. "Some of us were trying to permanently move the whole region to a weekly service next year when the matter comes up, and we'll have to consult on it then. it's very painful." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The disgraced lawyer at the centre of the Russell McVeagh #MeToo scandal has been granted a new practising certificate by the Law Society, which says he's fit to return as a barrister. Do we believe in second chances? The Government has pushed out the return to surplus for another year - and Ruth Richardson has responded by calling off the debate between her and Nicola Willis. What do we make of this? Auckland Council has moved to scrap a proposed trial for fortnightly rubbish collection in some Auckland suburbs. Do we think this is the right move? Will the new MCERT mega-Ministry actually improve anything? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown revealed his plan for a 7.9% rates increase to pay for City Rail Link running costs of an estimated $235 million annually. This is the largest rate rise since Auckland Council was formed in 2010. Questions have begun arising of the legitimacy of Wayne Browns calculation of City Rail Link's projected running costs. Auckland Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Jordan Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "you're entitled to your own opinion or your political strategy, but you're not entitled to your own facts. And the facts are Auckland Transport have have called this out as being absolute nonsense." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders are strongly rejecting a proposed fortnightly rubbish collection trial in select suburbs. The six month trial would start in February, and involve 10-thousand homes in Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure, Tamaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth. Of the more than five thousand submissions, 78 percent were opposed. Auckland Council's Waste Solutions General Manager Justine Haves told Heather du Plessis-Allan that a final decision will be made next month, but their goal is to cut down waste. She says there's lots of evidence from other councils that fortnightly collections makes a huge difference to the volume of waste. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of dollars have been spent on a new speedway track at Auckland's Waikaraka Park and drivers say it's a win for the racing community. It comes after Auckland Council's controversial decision to end nearly 100 years of speedway racing at Western Springs and move all speedway to Onehunga. Construction has finished up just in time for the first Auckland race of the 2025-2026 speedway season this Saturday. Jessica Hopkins spoke to drivers after they tested out the track for the first time this morning.

Disgusted, disappointed and furious - those are words of Simone Bennett reacting to the government's announcement that the long-awaited National Erebus Memorial will be built in Christchurch; Tourism operators are preparing for what they hope will be a strong summer season, with early signs looking good; Public consultation on Auckland Council's proposed six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections shows 78% of submitters opposed the trial; Eighty-year-old Ken McLeod started in the meat industry in 1962, when he was only 16; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Public consultation on Auckland Council's proposed six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections shows 78% of submitters opposed the trial. General manager for waste solutions, Justine Haves spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel; Regional Development Minister and NZ First Deputy Leader Shane Jones has been one of the strongest critics of regional government, previously saying there is "less and less of a justifiable purpose" for keeping regional councils under the new RMA system; The owners of a property prone to severe flash flooding are taking Auckland Council to court for designating their house safe to live in; There's very little wiggle room when it comes to the rights and regulations around annual leave, according to an employment law expert; Kiwis are knocking back more lower-alcohol beers, but it's less about the alcohol and more about their waistlines, says one expert.

The owners of a property prone to severe flash flooding are taking Auckland Council to court for designating their house safe to live in. Brendon Deacon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

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The New Zealand Green Building Council and Auckland Council have written an open letter to the government asking for urgent action on overheating homes. Andrew Eagles is the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Green Building Council and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland Council has opened up a drop-off site for kids' coloured play sand, over a nationwide recall. Morecroft Asbestos Removal's Jason Catterall spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Chartered town planner and urban designer George Weeks joins Elevate to unpack what “good density” actually looks like here in Aotearoa, and why the 5-minute pint test might be the simplest measure of liveability we've ever heard. George shares why density only works when you make the daily stuff easy: milk, a beer, a café, a park, within a short stroll from your front door. We dig into what NZ's getting right already (Point Chev, Christchurch terraces, Hobsonville), and what still needs work, like acoustic standards still stuck in the 1950s.You'll hear why the City Rail Link won't just shorten trips, it'll act like a “fountain of pedestrians” that shifts demand, value and development patterns around key stations. George breaks down why good streets are tree-lined, human-scaled and well-lit, and how developers can build projects that feel more like neighbourhoods and less like dense sprawl. If you're a builder or developer thinking about townhouses, walk-ups or mixed-use in any NZ city, this episode gives you a clear and practical playbook for density done right.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://www.masterbuilder.org.nz/Elevate Platform: http://elevate.masterbuilder.org.nzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/masterbuildernz/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuildersYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmh_9vl0pFf0zSB6N7RrVeg

During an interview with the ‘Morning Report', Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed that orders for the homeless in Auckland's CBD to move on were “definitely a consideration”. He later stated, that “Aucklanders don't feel safe going into the central city”, and both Central government and Auckland Council are considering how they can move homeless people out of the CBD ahead of summer.  This follows previous reports that the Government was considering a rough sleeping ban for central Auckland. This news comes as Stats NZ released their annual unemployment figures this week. The results show that national unemployment has risen to a nine-year high at 5.3%, with the New Zealand youth taking most of the damage. For our weekly catchup with The Green Party, Wednesday Wire Max spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March, to discuss the new unemployment figures released last week. They also spoke about the Government's new action plan to combat methamphetamine use. But first, they discussed what The Green Party thought about the Government's plan to decrease homelessness in the Auckland CBD

Auckland Council is spending another $300,000 on towering Christmas decorations for the city centre, to the delight of some and dismay of others. Amy Williams reports.

Amy has the latest on Auckland's homeless issue, who is leading committees at Auckland Council for the new term, a buyout scheme for at risk flooded homes is coming to an end and a new Christmas art installation for the CBD.

Auckland Council's The Kitchen Project manager Connie Clarkson joins Jesse to chat food. Today her recipe is gado gado with peanut sauce. Gado Gado means "mix mix" in Indonesian Gado-gado is a traditional Indonesian salad made of a medley of cooked or raw vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, fried tofu, all brought together with a rich peanut sauce. The name literally translates to "mix-mix," So versatile: use any combination of vegetables - waxy potatoes, kumara, beans, asparagus, - great for leftovers.

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has raised concerns with the Government's proposed solutions for rough sleepers - and says they won't solve the actual problem at hand. While details are scarce, reports show the Government and Auckland Council are working on moving homeless people out of public spaces in the CBD for destructive behaviour. Chlöe Swarbrick says it's time to get to the core root issues and invest in sensible solutions. "Right now, it seems like, really, the only place these people can end up being put is being held overnight in the cells. Again, that doesn't go anywhere near towards resolving the problem." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plan change 120, a new plan that seeks to allow for up to 2 million new dwellings in high density zones across mass rapid corridors throughout the city is currently up for public consultation.  Although hotly contested during the election period, it seems as if the city is on its way to unlocking high density development and a strengthening of its urban landscape against natural hazards.  Thursday Wire Producer Sanat talked to councilor Julie Fairey today about the consultation process, how people can get involved and what they should know about the plan change. Sanat also talked to her about the process of going from being a candidate to actually starting a role in council, what the inauguration looks like and how the Auckland Council building feels as new Councillors settle in for their term.

The debate over Eden Park events has reignited, as the Government has proposed letting it almost triple its annual concerts from 12 to 32. It's also recommending more timing flexibility, with the park currently unable to host events on a Sunday - and it's asking Auckland Council for feedback. Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says they've engaged with the residents in the area to get their views, and they're hoping for a positive outcome. "There's a variety of events that are impacted by our regulations - last Sunday night, we had to apply to Auckland Council at a cost of $15,000 to get an extension to the operating so we could have the league fixture." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government wants more concerts at Auckland's Eden Park. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has written to Auckland Council seeking feedback on allowing up to 20 medium-sized concerts a year, on top of the 12 concerts it currently hosts. An economic report warns current restrictions could cost the city $432 million in lost income over the next decade. Bishop told Mike Hosking these changes will be good for Auckland. He says the zoning and rules are holding the city back, even if there's demand for more concerts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From today, the public can offically submit feedback on Auckland Council's housing intensification plan. Auckland Councillor, Shane Henderson, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Thousands of households across the country are currently in rates arrears, struggling to pay their rates for the 2024/2025 financial year.  Auckland Council's head of rates, valuations and data management, Rhonwen Heath, said 6.6 percent of rates, or 42,902 households were outstanding at the start of the 2025/2026 year. As cost of living pressures continue to grow on households, with rising food, electricity and rents, Thursday Wire Producer Sanat wanted to chat to Auckland Councilor Shane Henderson about how Auckland Council plays a role in making life more affordable for everyday Aucklanders. They also had a discussion about the role of fireworks in our community, with major festivals like Diwali prompting some communities to express concern about the disruption that fireworks are causing to their families, animals and the natural environment.

An expert in water-sensitive design urges us to think harder about what lies beneath our feet Lost in Auckland's push for development has been the need to preserve the sort of sub-soil that absorbs water and encourages trees to growGuests: Sue Ira - director of Koru Environmental and Auckland University PhD candidateLearn more:Read Sue's article on Newsroom.That article came from a piece of research spearheaded by Auckland Council's Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience departments, funded by the Ministry for the Environment. That study is not yet publicly available. But another new report shows why this issue is so importantFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There is a renewed call for a ban on pop up pools following the drowning of another toddler in a temporary backyard pool. It is at least the second drowning of an under two year old in a temporary pool in just over a year. Water Safety New Zealand wants the sale and use of above-ground cheap temporary pools banned altogether, because people are unware of the rules or don't fence them. Auckland Council licensing and environmental health manager Mervyn Chetty spoke to Lisa Owen.

By 2048 more than half of seniors will be renting - advocates say there's not appropriate housing and councils need to step up. 

Auckland Council is frustrated nearly 30,000 dogs are still unregistered. The Council's manager for animal management Elly Waitoa spoke to Corin Dann.

Auckland Council's seeking feedback on plans to test a new scheme over six months, starting in February next year, but only in select suburbs. In those areas household rubbish bins will move to fortnightly collections, instead of once a week. Daniel Newman is the current councillor for Manurewa-Papakura, he voted against the trial and talks to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Council is considering halving rubbish collections - cutting the service from weekly to fortnightly. Auckland Council general manager of waste solutions Justine Haves spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, more than 11,500 allied health workers have voted to strike for 24 hours as part of a mega strike later this month; Meridian Energy says the government's long-awaited energy reforms are bold, and provide clarity; The country's drug buying agency, Pharmac, has a new leader; Auckland Council is considering halving rubbish collections - cutting the service from weekly to fortnightly.

Like 'tent city' is how part of the Auckland CBD is being described as the city grapples with a homelessness crisis. Auckland Council says homelessness has gone up 90 percent in the city since September last year, prompting calls for more support for those sleeping rough. The council's Community Committee says government policy changes are making it harder for people to access emergency housing. Checkpoint spoke to people living on the street in Auckland's city centre who say the winter months have been gruelling. Bella Craig reports.