'Unsafe, filthy, and noisy' - why some residents are leaving Auckland’s CBD

For many young Aucklanders, living in the CBD offers convenience - but for some, concerns around safety, cost, and quality of life are pushing them away.

Residents interviewed described the city as “chaotic”, “noisy”, and at times, unsafe, particularly at night.

Fynn Williamson, who has lived in Auckland’s CBD for over a year while studying at Auckland University, says that while the location is convenient, it doesn't always feel safe.

“I often come across people who are under the influence of substances.

“One time my mate and I were chased by a guy holding a shard of glass. That made me a little bit more cautious when walking to and from class.”

Resident Mellissa Tshuma shared a similar experience, saying she does not feel safe living in the CBD after being followed to class.

“They followed me to class, and the security guard had to stop them. There’s a lot of people like that walking around,” she said.

Concerns around safety are not only amongst residents. A recent survey found 91 per cent of central city businesses say rough sleeping and begging are affecting them, while many Aucklanders report feeling unsafe in the CBD, particularly at night.

This issue is a part of a wider trend. Homeless in Auckland has more than doubled in the past year.

Martin Lastreto, who has lived in the CBD for over a year, says once all the shops are closed the city changes.

“After 6pm, it's a completely different city. The streets are just full of homeless people and people under the influence of substances.”

Cleanliness is also a concern, with ongoing rubbish issues and illegal dumping across the city.

Resident Gabrielle Tamepo-Hunt, who recently moved to the CBD, said she was shocked by the amount of rubbish and noise.

“I can hear everything, not just people walking around at night, but fire alarms and emergency services,” she said.

“This morning, cruise ships were blaring their horns at 5am.”

Both Williamson and Tshuma have raised concerns about constant noise, saying construction and roadworks often continue late into the night.

“Construction is on-going. It makes it hard to sleep and then during the day if you try to drive down a street, often it's blocked off by road cones. It’s really frustrating,” Tshuma said.

While residents gave different reasons for disliking the CBD, they all shared one reason for staying - convenience.

Residents say they value being within walking distance of work, university, and essential services.

“I spend most of my time at work, which is convenient because I work in Parnell, so I can scooter, walk, or drive and it’s a quick trip. I'm not spending heaps of money on gas,” Tamepo-Hunt said.

While there were some positives, Williamson also expressed concerns about the CBD’s loss of vibrancy.

“I compare it to Dunedin. You can walk down there and it's so much more vibrant. Even during the day, there are bars playing music and heaps of people walking around with a smile on their face,” he said.

“There's definitely something missing in terms of vibrancy and happiness in the city.”

Asked what needs to change, Williamson says more support is needed to address social issues in the CBD.

“Homelessness and substance abuse needs to be addressed more. Those two things are driving people out of the city,” he said.

“If I want to go on a night out, I avoid the city for that reason my friends and I go to Ponsonby instead.”

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Our journalists sometimes use AI tools which are checked by humans for accuracy.

AI was used to help with research.