Community Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive Paul Gilberd joins The Front Page to talk about the real impact on people experiencing homelessness.
Wellington mayors and social leaders are urging the Government to scrap proposed powers targeting homelessness, saying they would cause “significant harm” to vulnerable communities.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, 21 capital leaders are opposing the Government’s proposed move-on orders targeting rough sleepers and beggars.
However,Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith calls the letter “overly simplistic, and those who signed it are actively choosing to ignore the facts”.
The planned new powers announced last month give police the ability to move people who are rough sleeping or begging away from the area for 24 hours, with a breach risking a maximum $2000 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment.
Wellington mayor Andrew Little, along with all mayors in the region, Mana Whenua, social service agencies and local church leaders saw the order as a “superficial and unhelpful” approach that had the potential to cause “significant harm” to the most vulnerable members of the community.
However, leaders believed this plan was yet to be seen.
“Your own statements on this issue in December 2025 were clear that people weren’t just going to be moved, they were to be supported to improve their circumstances. How the Government will facilitate this to happen, remains unclear,” the letter said.
The leaders pointed to social agencies around the country - like The Salvation Army - working “tirelessly” to give support to the community.
“We want to advise you that move-on orders are not welcome in this region”, they said.
The leaders were open to working with the Government to find “well-considered solutions to these issues”.
While they understood anti-social behaviour must be able to be responded to, they did not believe moving a person to an unspecified place fixed the problem, nor did anything to address the issues that individual was dealing with.
“Homelessness is a growing issue that is being felt throughout New Zealand. It is a complex and multi-faceted social challenge, the responsibility for which resides with all of us,” the letter said.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has stood by the proposed move-on powers for people begging or sleeping rough.
In response to the open letter, Minister Paul Goldsmith said, “The letter is overly simplistic, and those who signed it are actively choosing to ignore the facts."
Goldsmith has consistently defended the policy, saying it did not target those in poverty.
“Only people who refuse those orders will face prosecution. A move-on order is not a criminal charge.”
The proposed law was about reclaiming streets and city centres for the enjoyment of everybody, he said.
“New Zealanders are fair-minded people, and our culture is one where we seek to help those who are in need, but that doesn’t mean we should accept our city centres, particularly our showcase tourist spots, becoming places of intimidation, and dysfunction.”
Luxon’s office has been contacted for comment.
Sammy Carter is a journalist for the New Zealand Herald covering news in the Wellington region. She has previously worked at the Rotorua Daily Post.
