New move-on powers for police in New Zealand came into effect Sunday, allowing officers to issue orders requiring individuals to abandon a specified area for up to 24 hours. The orders, targeting disorderly behaviour, begging, and rough sleeping, are part of the government’s plan to reclaim city centres, but have already drawn criticism from Auckland councillors, advocacy groups, and those experiencing homelessness.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the amendment to the Summary Offences Act, stating it would address “disruption and disturbance” in main streets and town centres. The orders apply to people aged 14 and older exhibiting behaviours including displaying disorderly conduct, obstructing access to businesses, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, or indicating an intent to inhabit a public space. Breaching an order carries a potential fine of up to $2,000 or a three-month jail term.
Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young welcomed the new powers as a potential tool for police, but expressed doubts about their long-term effectiveness. “The problem we see with it is that if you move someone on, you’re moving them to just another area where they’ll be a problem for somebody else,” she said, questioning whether the orders would break the cycle of antisocial behaviour or simply displace it. Young emphasized the need for wider social support, stating that without it, the move-on orders were unlikely to deliver lasting relief to businesses.
Concerns were echoed by people experiencing homelessness in Auckland. Kenneth Dahl, who has been on and off the streets for 18 years, described the orders as a “bully tactic,” arguing they would push vulnerable individuals further into the margins. He currently has provided motel accommodation, but said he chooses not to stay there, describing it as “a cell or a prison cell” lacking the connection to nature he finds on the streets.
Benny Ngata, also in Auckland’s central city, predicted the orders would lead to increased crime, arguing that addressing the root causes of homelessness – a lack of affordable housing and inadequate support for mental health and addiction – was crucial. “How about help those people to advance themselves and give them a place?” he asked, adding that incarcerating individuals would ultimately be more costly for the government.
Auckland Councillor Richard Hills criticized the move-on orders as “heartless” and “draconian,” attributing the increase in homelessness to earlier government policy changes. Community Housing Aotearoa echoed these concerns, arguing that police are not equipped to assess the health support needs of rough sleepers and that such assessments should be left to trained professionals. Chief executive Paul Gilberd called for better coordination between services.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon defended the new powers, stating that police were capable of dealing with the issues and that the orders provided another tool to address antisocial behaviour. He asserted that police were familiar with local businesses and individuals experiencing homelessness and could connect them with support services.
However, Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge questioned the government’s commitment to providing that support, recalling earlier assurances that any laws targeting rough sleepers would be accompanied by increased assistance. “I’m still waiting to see what the help is going to look like,” he said. Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson expressed similar concerns, stating she was “trying not to panic” about the potential impact on vulnerable individuals and did not believe the law would work.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s office stated that police are expected to connect individuals issued with move-on orders to available support services. Ian Wright, property manager of Queen’s Arcade in Auckland, expressed support for the orders, viewing them as a positive step alongside increased security and social support. Nick Bennett, a shop owner in the arcade, said the orders would reassure the public and address escalating aggressive behaviour.
Aaron Hendry, who works with at-risk youth, raised concerns about the application of the orders to individuals as young as 14, warning of a “streets to prison pipeline” due to a lack of adequate support structures. The amendment to the Summary Offences Act still requires legislative approval, but the government has indicated its intention to expedite the process.
Data from the National Homelessness Data Project shows that homelessness in Auckland more than doubled in the year to September, highlighting the scale of the issue the government is attempting to address.
