I live in Auckland, Fiji

**PrincessBandit** · 10th March 2013, 21:45

This evening Balu and I decided, lovely warm evening and all, to make the five minute walk up to town for dinner. We don't usually venture on foot up to Southmall after 6ish but it was a good night for it. As we dawdled along we realised just how shabby and tired looking everything was. New tagging on the newly upgraded rail path, filthy garbage dumped along the line, general rubbish in all the gutters, the shops which look straight out of some third world country. Then to top it off a young girl wandered past - she couldn't have been older than 9 - and she says " you got a spare two dollars?" I said No (because I didn't) but thought to myself hell, when did Manurewa turn into Suva? (Or any other such place where you'd see kids begging in the streets.

I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked, randomly in the street in Rewa, "excuse me ma'am, but could you give two dollars for a train fare?" (Always by youths, and at least they're usually polite- until you say Sorry I have no cash at all on me). This is now the second time a kid under ten, with no adult anywhere near in sight, has approached me asking/begging for money.

I honestly felt tonight I was walking through some slum or ghetto, not the city I've lived in for over thirty years!!

**Laava** · 10th March 2013, 21:52

Bula!

**psycho22** · 10th March 2013, 21:55

I only go back maybe once a year but every time things just look more and more rundown.

**mashman** · 10th March 2013, 22:09

It has been commonplace in the UK for the last decade or two, maybe even more. It's bound to end up here I'm afraid.

**Akzle** · 11th March 2013, 06:57

but..but.. but. good society.... and democratic government... and pay tax to help the poor... and...

wait.

hahahahahahaha.
nah shit's still fucked.

**Maha** · 11th March 2013, 07:01

''shabby and tired''?... been through Moerewa of late?

**Edbear** · 11th March 2013, 07:03

It's the way the world is going, witness Chicago.

**iYRe** · 11th March 2013, 07:11

I live in 'rewa too (well, weymouth).

When I moved here 8 years ago there was a "beautification project" underway.. when the supercity became a reality, the beautification project ceased to be a reality.

However, we do have Ezmeralda's Cafe which is much win.

**slofox** · 11th March 2013, 07:14

Happens in The Tron too.

**SMOKEU** · 11th March 2013, 07:47

Too many coons.

**Zedder** · 11th March 2013, 07:57

Stay tuned for further thread disintegration...

**Tigadee** · 11th March 2013, 08:42

Whenever I walk around my neighbourhood, I pick up what rubbish I see on the footpaths. It's just disgusting how people treat this country.

Where and when I grew up, there were civic consciousness films and ads shown in schools and on TV respectively to remind people how to treat the elderly, the infirm, the environment, public and private property, etc. Parents took the belt to their kids' behinds if they intentionally broke anything or defaced property. Thus kids grew up respecting others and their property.

**Glowerss** · 11th March 2013, 09:18

Originally Posted by Edbear

It's the way the world is going, witness Chicago.

You leave my hometown out of this!

Better example would be detroit

**Zedder** · 11th March 2013, 09:18

Originally Posted by Tigadee

Whenever I walk around my neighbourhood, I pick up what rubbish I see on the footpaths. It's just disgusting how people treat this country.

Where and when I grew up, there were civic consciousness films and ads shown in schools and on TV respectively to remind people how to treat the elderly, the infirm, the environment, public and private property, etc. Parents took the belt to their kids' behinds if they intentionally broke anything or defaced property. Thus kids grew up respecting others and their property.

It's good to hear you pick up rubbish and about the positive civic attitudes, however, it's a more complex issue than those aspects.