Tepi Amohia, who had lived on the streets for 30 years, has a two bedroom Housing New Zealand unit. Tepi has a dog, "Sacha" and says he needs to beg on the streets to pay for her care.

Despite having a house of his own, formerly homeless man Tepi Amohia is back on the streets of Christchurch, a "homeless and hungry" sign at his feet.

Amohia said his invalids benefit didn't cover all his costs and he had no choice but to return to begging. Most of the money earned on the street went to feeding his four-year-old dog Sacha, he said.

Constable Gina Farmer, part of Police's community safety team, said his actions could be considered "obtaining by deception" and he was "certainly not" homeless.

Joseph Johnson "I will always be homeless, I associate with the homeless, it's who I am."

"I will always be homeless, I associate with the homeless, it's who I am," Amohia said.

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"With rent on the house, power bills, and buying food for [Sacha], there isn't enough money."

Joseph Johnson Formerly homeless man Tepi Amohia is back on the streets of Christchurch with a "homeless and hungry" sign at his feet.

After 30 years on the street, Amohia moved into a Housing New Zealand house in March.

He had since received complaints from concerned neighbours about his behaviour, and the people he attracted to nearby Walnut Tree Park.

Amohia had been seen at several locations around Christchurch over the last two weeks, most recently outside South City Mall on Colombo St.

"This is an option for us – we can't go rob some person or some shop, or rob a bank –so we might as well do this.

"I've used the same sign all the time. People don't worry about it, they all know I have a house, but I just tell them I'm still struggling in the house."

Amohia said he paid $190 in rent, leaving him $50 for power and food - "the rest goes on [Sacha]".

A Housing New Zealand spokesman said Amohia paid $65 in rent each week, with support and other assistance.

Farmer said most people begging on the street were "genuinely homeless – he is certainly not".

"It's been widely reported that he was homeless for 30 years, so I guess it's a hard habit to break.

"You could put a case forward that he was obtaining by deception, but it's people's choice about whether they want to give him money".

Police had responded to several complaints at Amohia's residence, with Farmer saying she had been working with both Amohia and his neighbours, and "there has been an improvement in general".

"It's not necessarily his behaviour, but the people frequenting his new abode.

"He is aware of that, and has made suitable amendments in response."