Sam Prasad outside his two businesses. Photo: Jeremy Smith.
A Te Awamutu businessman says he’s at an impasse after trying to resolve issues with customers of one of his neighbours.
Sam Prasad says “hand on heart” he is doing his best to look after his staff, but he can’t get any support.
His stores – Merchants Liquor and Hell Pizza – are neighbours of Work and Income’s Vaile St Te Awamutu office.
He says for months some Winz clients have engaged in verbal and racial abuse of him and his staff, used the carparks he provides for customers, and it’s now bordering on physical violence.
Winz employs security guards at its premises.
In a statement to The News, Ministry of Social Development Waikato regional commissioner Tracey Smith said while Work and Income staff sympathised with the frustrating situation Prasad faced, he should raise the issue with police.
“Our security guards need to focus on their role ensuring the security of the service centre, which means they aren’t able to spend time patrolling nearby parking owned by local businesses,” she said.
Prasad – who employs more than 20 staff across the two businesses – approached The News saying he has grave concerns for staff safety.
He said complaints to police had failed to resolve issues and Waipā District Council staff could not assist because the car parks are on private property.
The businessman, who has been in New Zealand for more than 20 years, said he has regularly been told to “go back to your country”.
“When my staff are the ones getting abused, it doesn’t sit well with me at all. I can hand on my heart tell you that I try my level best to be the best employer I can to be and try to look after them.”
Prasad said Work and Income security guards stationed outside its Te Awamutu building had helped disperse and control any potential incidents – but that had stopped.
Now he said his own clients were being put off from going to his shops.
“Look, individually there are some great people working at Work and Income, but collectively they seem very non-receptive
towards helping solve this,” he said.
“I do everything I can to be a good neighbour. I’m not meaning to hassle them. All I’m asking for is that we work together to resolve these issues.
“I just want to know who can help me. How do I resolve the situation so I can just go about my everyday business doing what I do? I didn’t get into business to pick fights.”
Smith said ministry staff were happy to meet with Prasad in an effort to resolve the situation.
