APPEALS CLASH: Natalie Gousmett says Rape Crisis depends on its one-day appeal for 20 per cent of its income.

Charities have clashed in Wellington, with the Salvation Army defying a council plea to give a Rape Crisis appeal a fair shot.

Wellington Rape Crisis had Wellington City Council permission to hit the streets yesterday for their annual fundraising appeal.

But the Salvation Army, in the middle of a week-long nationwide appeal, was still out collecting – getting around the fact it had no council permission by standing in business doorways, off council land.

"We are disappointed and frustrated with the Salvation Army," council spokesman Richard MacLean said.

He said there had been "fairly testy discussions" between the council and the Salvation Army this week to try to stop it stepping on Wellington Rape Crisis' toes.

The event is a rematch of 2003, when the council accused the Salvation Army of "hijacking" Independent Rape Crisis' appeal in exactly the same way. Independent Rape Crisis has since changed its name to Wellington Rape Crisis.

Charities need permission from the council to collect on the streets, and Mr MacLean said Fridays were particularly sought after.

Salvation Army public relations secretary Robbie Ross said the army was competing with five other appeals this week. "There are so many charities in New Zealand right now this is bound to happen."

Wellington Rape Crisis agency manager Natalie Gousmett said yesterday that the agency relied on its annual appeal for 20 per cent of its income – as well as raising awareness.

"I think it's really detrimental to have competition for two good causes." She had complained to the council earlier in the week about Salvation Army's plans but appreciated it had its hands tied.

"I think in good faith [Salvation Army] should have said `we won't appeal in your appeal in Wellington'."

Despite the clash of charities, she said Wellingtonians were generous yesterday.

Wellington Rape Crisis usually raised $12,000 to $15,000 in its appeal. "It's going to be less than we would have got if they weren't there."

Mr Ross said the Salvation Army would have its Red Shield Appeal in the first week of May next year – as it had for the past 11 years – regardless of which other organisations were out.

Salvation Army did not get street appeal permission in Wellington in May because it had a separate one-day local appeal at another time of the year.

It usually raised about $800,000 during its annual nationwide appeal but that was expected to be less this year because it was not collecting in Christchurch.

"There's a 30 per cent increase over three years on what the Salvation Army need to collect," he said.