auckland city council

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richgamer

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# 21834 8-May-2008 12:49

well i wonder whats up with auckland city council taking buskers to court>>

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4513198a6016.html

i thought a public place in where people can go. i thought it is people's human right to be able to go to a public place. auckland city council is taking people to court because they busk in a public place. this is ridiculous. what a waste of ratepayers money.

busking should be allowed in any public place as long as they are not blocking the entire footpath and shops nearby can still hear themselves and their customers speak.

what is more amazing is that auckland city council wants to ban these people from using dvds and laptops in public places. so they won't be able to sit in a park in the city and use a 3g card to access the internet with their laptop.

i thought john banks as mayor would be different but it seems auckland city council wants to breach people's human rights.

tonyhughes

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# 129351 8-May-2008 13:25

Do you realise how profitable busking can be? Yet buskers do not contribute to the city in the same way that other business owners do, in the form of rates etc.

I have seen buskers around the world and in New Zealand making more money that shops they stand outside, paying no rent, potentially paying no tax if they choose to stay under the radar, paying no rates, taking up footpath space that enables good pedestrian flow (how many times I have seen buskers take up 50% plus of a footpath, to the detriment of wheelchairs, prams and mobility scooters trying to move around a city).

As an amateur musician myself, and knowing the sheer amount of cash that can be reaped, 30 mins unregulated busking is more than generous - many places require a busking licence, which is not cheap, and means the buskers contribute on a similar scheme to other business people in the same area.

I have seen with my own eyes, a busker earn over $300 in one hour (I asked him how much he pulled in, as I gave him a few dollars, and we had a good conversation about how he was earning over $1000 a week busking, not declaring it, and also working nights fulltime). Do that 3 times a day for 2 days a week, and you are looking a lot better off than some poor sap paying rent/rates/tax/overheads.

tonyhughes

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# 129353 8-May-2008 13:29

richgamer: what is more amazing is that auckland city council wants to ban these people from using dvds and laptops in public places. so they won't be able to sit in a park in the city and use a 3g card to access the internet with their laptop.

i thought john banks as mayor would be different but it seems auckland city council wants to breach people's human rights.

It sounds like the laptop was in support of their moneymaking efforts. Calling it a breach of human rights seems a bit OTT. Clearly they have made literally thousands of dollars (sending someone to the UK), why shouldn't they be regulated in some way.

If I want to go to the UK, can I choose not to pay tax on the income I earn to make it happen?

For what its worth, I think they should probably get their stuff back immediately.

MackinNZ

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# 129364 8-May-2008 14:21

I recognise them from the photo on stuff.co.nz. They are terrible, you wouldn't want them busking outside your shop, the cacophony would drive customers away. In fact I recall a news item some time ago where several retailers were complaining of just that. The family used to busk up and down Queen St and I also recall them in Newmarket.

There are some good buskers out there and they should be encouraged. I'm all for busking, it bring a richness and vibrancy to the city, but there has to be some limits. If every shop you stand outside is complaining about how their custom is dropping when you're there, perhaps it's time to take the hint.

nate

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# 129443 8-May-2008 19:03

MackinNZ: I recognise them from the photo on stuff.co.nz. They are terrible, you wouldn't want them busking outside your shop, the cacophony would drive customers away. In fact I recall a news item some time ago where several retailers were complaining of just that. The family used to busk up and down Queen St and I also recall them in Newmarket.

I think I remember this guy. From the few times I remember hearing him he was an amazing classical piano player.

Busking should be regulated - apply for permission to busk in particular places, for certain amounts of time and everybody wins - buskers get to do what they are good at, and the council has some control over what happens in Auckland.

What amazes me the most from this article is this line:

The Sheffield family have been served with a 349 page application for an injunction from the council, seeking to prevent them from busking.

349 pages? Who would read such a hefty document??

richgamer

224 posts

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# 129659 9-May-2008 13:32

mr hughes, how do u know the buskers don't contribute to the city? anyone who earns income has to file a tax return so they could be doing this which means they are paying tax to the government. the government gives money to fix roads in auckland etc.

and reporters who work for television news interview people on the footpath all the time. they get paid for it. and they don't contribute to auckland do they?

tonyhughes: Do you realise how profitable busking can be? Yet buskers do not contribute to the city in the same way that other business owners do, in the form of rates etc.

I have seen buskers around the world and in New Zealand making more money that shops they stand outside, paying no rent, potentially paying no tax if they choose to stay under the radar, paying no rates, taking up footpath space that enables good pedestrian flow (how many times I have seen buskers take up 50% plus of a footpath, to the detriment of wheelchairs, prams and mobility scooters trying to move around a city).

As an amateur musician myself, and knowing the sheer amount of cash that can be reaped, 30 mins unregulated busking is more than generous - many places require a busking licence, which is not cheap, and means the buskers contribute on a similar scheme to other business people in the same area.

I have seen with my own eyes, a busker earn over $300 in one hour (I asked him how much he pulled in, as I gave him a few dollars, and we had a good conversation about how he was earning over $1000 a week busking, not declaring it, and also working nights fulltime). Do that 3 times a day for 2 days a week, and you are looking a lot better off than some poor sap paying rent/rates/tax/overheads.

rscole86

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# 129664 9-May-2008 13:41

richgamer; I beleive tony was hinting at the fact that they probably are not registered with the IRD as being a musician/busker and earn money in that form. And I think he is right. I am sure there are a lot of them who will not being paying any form of income tax what so ever.

In regards to your comments about making money for the Auckland City Council, then again as Tony said they are not paying to rent their square meters, which everyone else is required to do.

cokemaster

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# 129672 9-May-2008 14:34

richgamer:
i thought john banks as mayor would be different ....

He is doing what he promised, reducing taxes. He always was going to run Auckland into the ground, but people wanted their $0.50 off their rates and motorways... go figure.

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