Those parked at the reserve aren't breaching a council bylaw unless they are disturbing others or public property.

A group of people who live in buses and other vehicles in an Auckland car park say they are doing no harm but a local board and residents want to see them moved on.

More than a dozen people are using the empty North Shore car park beside a reserve as a make-shift home, in buses, vans and cars.

Some come and go but others live there permanently, dotted around the car park's edge which sits beside a busy main road.

They aren't in breach of a council bylaw if they're not disturbing others or public property.

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But North Shore resident Peter Hyde said the problem was getting "worse and worse" and wanted to see the dwellers moved on.

"I don't think any ratepayer in the area would want to see a ghetto in their neighbourhood."

Amy Baker/Stuff North Shore resident Peter Hyde said he felt the problem was getting "worse and worse".

He said he worried about hygiene and social aspects of the settlement, as well as safety, as he had seen someone trying to tap into a power box.

It could also put off visitors to the reserve as it looked "unsafe and unseemly", he added.

Upper Harbour Local Board chairwoman Margaret Miles said the issue was an "ongoing problem" that had been raised with board members and communicated to council.

"It is a concern to us but to be honest, we've had little success in getting enforcement staff at council to move them on."

However, several of the bus dwellers said the council needed to make more provision for those trying to find alternatives to high rental prices or mortgages and create communities.

Nathan, a freelance hairdresser who began living in his bus several years ago after finding it difficult to save after paying rent and business costs, said the community was more than just those sleeping rough in their cars.

"These people in buses are 'tiny house people'. They just want a place to park with a shower and a washing machine and a rubbish bin."

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff Bus dwellers said they wanted to see more provision for those in mobile homes and buses, who needed or wanted alternatives to high rental costs and mortgages.

Another bus dweller, who worked full-time as an engineer and stayed in the park a few nights each week, said what had started out as an alternative lifestyle 10 years ago was now hard to get out of.

"At this stage, I don't fancy myself getting into a house unless I win Lotto."

Bus resident Doc said councils needed to provide facilities for those who couldn't afford rent or a house, especially those living out of cars.

"I'm not doing any harm. I'm self-contained, I don't cause any trouble."

Projections show that more than 26,000 people could be without a roof over their heads in the region by 2021, according to a recent report to the Council's City Centre Advisory Board.

Auckland Council arts, community and events general manager Graham Bodman said someone sleeping in a public reserve could be in breach of the Public Safety or Nuisance Bylaw.

"But only if they are wilfully obstructing, disturbing, or interfering with any other person in their use or enjoyment of that public place."

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff Auckland Council arts, community and events general manager Graham Bodman said the wellbeing of people was the primary concern.

The council worked with specialist support agencies in circumstances where it was informed about, or encountered people sleeping rough, he said.

"The primary concern is always the well-being of the people involved."

Staff used a "graduated enforcement process", providing advice and information in the first instance, such as notifying Auckland City Mission, Bodman said.

Acting area police commander Waitematā East, Inspector Kevin McNaughton said, there had been "minimal incidents" at the park since January.

Issues with anyone living at the reserve was a matter for the land owner not police, he said.

Under the current Freedom Camping Bylaw review, the council's Regulatory Committee recommended the reserve be restricted to certified self-contained vehicles only.

Auckland's first 'Homeless Count', a region-wide count of those living on the street and in cars, will take place on September 17.