The penalty for breaching a move-on order will be a maximum $2000 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment. Photo / 123rf
Whanganui social services are not convinced by the Government’s new move-on orders but the electorate’s MP says they allow police to “step in early to prevent harm”.
On Sunday, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced that under a proposed amendment to the Summary Offences Act, police would have the power to issue move-on orders for begging, rough sleeping and disorderly, disruptive, threatening or intimidating behaviour.
Community House Whanganui manager Shelley Loader said there was no immediate crisis accommodation available in Whanganui.
“Where are people being moved on to? Around the corner? The bushes?” she said.
“It’s relocating the problem, or invisibilising the problem, and the problem doesn’t get resolved.”
During his announcement, Goldsmith said the country’s main streets and town centres had been “blighted by disruption and disturbance”.
He said businesses were declining as some bad behaviour went unchecked.
Business Whanganui chief executive Helen Garner said it was too early to fully understand how the orders would be enforced and what the effects would be.
“From a business owner’s perspective, especially in a retail space, having somebody sleeping on your doorstep is a difficult thing to deal with.”
But people needed to be taken care of, she said.
“We can’t lose our humanity. Is there appropriate support around people?
“It’s one thing to make a policy and another thing to be at the pointy end of enforcing it.”
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said keeping the town centre vibrant and secure mattered “deeply to us all”.
He said he supported practical steps to reduce disruption, intimidation or behaviours that made public spaces less accessible or enjoyable.
“At the same time, we must care for those experiencing homelessness,” he said.
“Without proper support, these measures risk simply moving people from one vulnerable situation to another, rather than helping them find stability.
“True compassion means responding with dignity, mana and real care, not just enforcement.”
Tripe said the Government had a key role to play and housing, health services, addiction support and long-term solutions were primarily national responsibilities, not for local councils.
“Councils are not set up or funded to fully address homelessness, yet we often feel compelled to step in and fill the gaps where we can.”
Whanganui MP Carl Bates (National) said the orders were similar to those used across all Australian states.
“It’s proportionate, it’s flexible, and it gives an option to step in early to prevent harm, both for the individuals and the wider community,” he said.
In Whanganui, the orders were part of a broader set of Government-backed initiatives, including a crisis recovery cafe, retail crime forum, and Kāinga Ora housing development at Delhi Ave, Bates said.
“There will be locals who will try to make a political story about it, instead of looking at the reality of ensuring our police have the necessary tools to support people.”
The penalty for breaching a move-on order will be a maximum $2000 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment.
An order requires a person to leave a specified area for up to 24 hours, and to move to “a reasonable distance from the area”, specified by the police officer.
Orders apply to people aged 14 and over, and are issued in writing.
People can also receive an order for obstructing or impeding someone from entering a business, breaching the peace, and behaviour indicating an intent to inhabit a public place.
The Koha Shed board chairwoman, Sharon Duff, said Goldsmith’s announcement was “just clickbait, frankly”, and the move-on orders would make very little difference.
Her organisation redistributes donated items, including food, clothing, tents and sleeping bags.
“The police have got other things they’re dealing with,” Duff said.
“They prioritise things, and they’ll continue to prioritise things. I can’t see them going around town and moving people who are sleeping in a safe place.”
Tripe said homeless people were often dealing with complex challenges, including mental health struggles, addiction, trauma or family breakdown and a lack of affordable housing.
“As this policy moves forward, I will keep pushing for balanced solutions – strong public safety alongside heartfelt care for those in need and real investment in housing and support services.
“I invite ongoing conversation with residents, businesses, frontline workers, and those directly affected.
“Whanganui’s strength comes from our shared compassion and willingness to tackle tough issues together. Let’s continue that.”
Loader said nobody in the social service sector was advocating for drug use or antisocial behaviour.
“But your body is not capable of making choices when you’re in survival mode.
“You need to have food and somewhere to sleep. You need physical needs met before you can even begin to deal with mental needs.”
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present, his focus is on local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.