Move-on orders, from both sides of the street
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
This is Simon. You’ve probably seen him sitting on Willis St with his artwork, smiling and chatting with passers-by.
Simon is one of the many people in Wellington who is experiencing homelessness.
The Government has proposed giving new powers to the police allowing them to move on rough sleepers in public spaces.
People as young as 14 could be moved under the proposed policy, and those who refuse to move could possibly end up with a $2000 fine or a three-month prison term.
Police haven’t been granted these powers yet as the legislation is still progressing through parliament, a spokesperson confirmed.
Read more
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Begging in the suburbs: The spread of Wellington’s ‘homeless’
Opposition to the proposal has been swift. The Salvation Army released a statement saying it was deeply concerned the move-on orders could negatively impact people experiencing homelessness, as they often had nowhere safe to go.
“Simply moving people out of sight does not resolve the underlying issues of poverty, housing insecurity, and mental health challenges that drive street presence,” the statement said.
Tū Te Akaaka Roa, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) warned that the proposed powers risked criminalising poverty, homelessness and mental illness.
They also failed to address any of the root causes driving the anti-social behaviours they aimed to curb, Tū Te Akaaka Roa chairperson Dr Hiran Thabrew said.
“Community safety is genuinely important, but the evidence is clear that these kinds of enforcement measures do not make communities safer,” Thabrew said.
Simon said he ended up without housing after being in prison in Thailand for a year. He supports himself by selling his artwork.
He said it was important to note that many in the rough sleeper community had mental health issues, or used synthetic drugs that made them ill.
However, people still had to hold themselves accountable. “You can’t scream or make a mess” as it scared families and people on the street, Simon said.
“I’m just trying to look after the community. They can move me on if they want.”
First Retail managing director Chris Wilkinson said that after many years working in the capital’s retail sector, it was clear alcohol and substance dependencies were increasing.
It was the unpredictability of the behaviour that put people at risk, he said. People also tended to avoid areas where violence felt possible, meaning businesses were being affected.
“It’s incredibly sad … The reality is, town and city centres need to be inclusive environments - but when something changes that you need to make a move.”
Wilkinson said some of the recent behaviours had been genuinely threatening, and that the threatening aspect had become a major focus of the legislation.
Business Central chief executive Hayley Horan said the organisation was broadly supportive of the proposal.
Businesses needed to be able to open their doors without fear, and an environment that discouraged customers, staff and visitors from coming into the city was a poor one.
“A vibrant CBD depends on people feeling safe and welcome,” Horan said.
At the same time, it was impossible to ignore the reality that many of the issues seen on the streets were linked to mental health and addiction.
Those challenges required compassion, long-term support and proper resourcing, she said, with strong social services required alongside the police having practical tools to allow them to de-escalate situations.
“Move-on powers, used appropriately, can help manage behaviour that intimidates or disrupts without criminalising poverty,” Horan said.
“The goal should be a city centre that works for everyone — where businesses can operate with confidence, workers feel secure, and vulnerable people are treated with dignity and connected to the support they need.”