Buddhist Council wants reputation protected amid rise in scam involving fake monks

The chair of the New Zealand Buddhist Council wants the dignity and reputation of monks protected, amid a re-emerging scam involving people dressed as monks .

There has been a rise in reports of individuals dressed as monks fundraising aggressively in Auckland and other parts of the country.

Members of the public have told RNZ about strange interactions with people handing out religious-looking tokens then asking for money, while others described the approach as aggressive and confrontational.

NZ Buddhist Council chair Robert Hunt told RNZ it's disappointing to see the scam re-emerging.

In 2015, the NZ Herald reported on an alleged Chinese syndicate recruiting fake charity 'monks' to target pedestrians abroad and that that year police had spoken to at least three "begging monks" in Auckland and Wellington.

"We are hearing directly from some of our members that they've been approached in Auckland by people whose behaviour clearly doesn't accord with that of Buddhist monastics," Hunt said.

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"Our concern is that this demanding of money and offering blessings or trinkets in exchange for payment, it's not how genuine Buddhist monks conduct themselves, and it puts the person being approached in a difficult situation because it seems to be quite coercive."

Hunt said demanding money was "absolutely unacceptable in all situations" for Buddhist monks, however couldn't comment on other faiths.

It was unclear what faith those dressed as monks represented.

"The immediate association that probably comes to people's minds is the ancient and really quite sensible tradition for monks, which is called alms round, so that's where monks go into the community with their bowls, and they're normally given food," he said.

"But they don't approach people and pressure them."

Hunt wanted to point out that wearing robes in public alone was not suspicious.

"The problem is not Buddhist monks being visible in public," he said.

"The warning sign is pressure for money, selling trinkets or directing people to get out cash, because that's certainly not how genuine Buddhist monastics conduct themselves, and if someone is approached, the safest response is to politely decline and move away."

People should not feel obliged to give money under pressure, Hunt said.

"I think that's true of all religious giving, it shouldn't even be associated with embarrassment or confusion, let alone pressure."

Auckland Council encourages reporting

Auckland Council has urged individuals not to engage with people dressed as monks, aggressively demanding money as a donation in exchange for trinkets or bracelets.

Lisa Cribbens, acting general manager of licensing and compliance at Auckland Council, urged people not to engage with such individuals and contact police if they encountered behaviour that was intimidating, deceptive or aggressive.

"People who are lawfully undertaking [fundraising] activities are required to hold either a fundraising licence or a street trading permit," Cribbens said.

"Our Community Safety Wardens regularly patrol central Auckland streets and other areas of Auckland and can issue notices to those not complying with council bylaws."

Those lawfully fundraising must hold a relevant licence or street trading permit, she said.