Andrew Little: Move-on orders kicking the Wellington problem 'down the road'
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Wellington mayor Andrew Little says move-on orders won't fix the underlying cause of the city's homeless problem and the new powers will just 'kick the problem down the road'.
The Government this week 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.
Wellington’s homeless problem has grown in multiple measures in recent years with a growing number of suburbs finding homelessness is no longer confined to the central city and city fringe suburbs.
Read more:
Ministers decide on ‘move on’ powers but keep decision secret
Begging in the suburbs: The spread of Wellington’s ‘homeless’
Little said the city was doing a “fair amount” to deal with the issue and he talked to the police about it last week.
“They were adamant to me that they know that to be effective, the underlying needs of those people need to be met, and that's the challenge that we've got,” he said.
Little didn’t believe the proposed orders would fix the problem and could just “kick the problem down the road”.
“The real answer to that is making sure that the right social supports are in place for people who don't have a roof over their head.”
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith previously said police currently had limited options to respond to homelessness, particularly when behaviour didn’t reach the level of offending.
“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,” Goldsmith said.
But Little joins a list of people at the coal face treating the proposal with suspicion or scorn.
The Salvation Army released a statement saying it was deeply concerned the move-on orders could negatively impact people experiencing homelessness.
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.
Dwell Housing Trust’s Elizabeth Lester said the proposal was a quick fix to push homelessness out of sight, rather than addressing its root causes.
Wellington City councillor Geordie Rogers labelled them 'revolting'.
Business Central chief executive Hayley Horan said the organisation was broadly supportive of the proposal.