Nā Hora Kairangi Nicholas tēnei atikara.
Synopsis: Over 50% of Ōtautahi ‘streeties’ are Māori - Locals raise their concerns on move-on orders.
ŌTAUTAHI - People living on the streets say proposed move-on orders could criminalise their struggle to survive amid rising cost of living pressures and reduced access to emergency housing across Aotearoa.
Under legislation proposed by the National Party, police would be able to issue 24-hour move-on notices to people displaying disorderly, disruptive, threatening or intimidating behaviour; obstructing or impeding someone entering a business; breaching the peace; and all forms of begging and rough sleeping. Failure to comply could result in a $2,000 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment.
“It’s a bit over the top just for needing some support,” says Matthew Rosewarne, a ‘streetie’ who currently lives in central Ōtautahi.
Rosewarne tells Tahu News police should focus on support rather than enforcement. “If they’re more supportive on their side maybe we’d be a bit more motivated too, we’d be more keen and willing to do other things.”
Tamati John Taylor, another person who has slept rough and begs to support his family, says costs are high. “We still need extra money … we still can’t afford to buy clothes … we live on the cheapest to the cheapest stuff just to get by and it’s hard, it’s real hard.” He adds in jest “I guess I’m back to being a criminal again, aren’t I.”
Support agencies raise concerns.
Organisations providing homelessness support say move-on orders are not a solution.
Jill Hawkey, director of the Christchurch Methodist Mission, which runs the Housing First programme, says the orders will not address the root causes of homelessness. “They don’t make any sense at all. It’s only moving the problem on, from one suburb to the next.”
She emphasises that the real challenge is housing supply. “Actually, let’s look at some good emergency housing for people or actually invest in building some more long-term permanent social housing. That’s our shortage.”
Hawkey explains that Housing First works by getting people into permanent housing first, then providing support for set-up costs, furniture, and ongoing mentoring. “We see it works. People have graduated from our programme because they no longer actually require the support. We’ve seen them go on to study, gain employment, and re-establish relationships with family.”
She also highlights the disproportionate impact on Māori. “At the moment over 50% in Christchurch alone are Māori … it’s something we need to be paying particular attention to.”
Corinne Haine, from the Christchurch City Mission in Ōtautahi, adds the proposed penalties would be unfair to people with no income. “If they had money to pay a fine of two thousand dollars, they wouldn’t be living on the street.”
Emergency housing access falls amid cost pressures
Recent data from the Ministry of Social Development shows a sharp reduction in the use of emergency housing grants, with the number of grants falling from 6,429 in April last year to 1,290 in September. Spending over that period dropped from $23.04 million to $3.07 million.
The number of people in emergency housing declined from 2,532 to 438 over the same timeframe. The government has stated it intends to reduce reliance on emergency housing and motel accommodation, shifting focus toward long-term housing solutions.
Official data shows criteria for emergency housing have tightened in recent years. In August 2024, MSD introduced new rules, including additional obligations for applicants and new reasons to decline applications, such as if a person “caused or contributed to their immediate need”. The proportion of declined applications rose from about 3% in March 2023 to 37.7% by September 2025.
Housing costs add pressure
Housing cost pressures remain high. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, nearly 46% of non-owner households spent 30% or more of their income on housing, a common measure of housing stress.
Kaihono Terangiparutini Tipa of Tūpono Mana Tangata, who supports whānau Māori daily, notes the rising cost of basics and housing. “Butter costs around nine bucks, cheese 15 dollars … even milk is cheaper from the warehouse than the supermarket,” he says. He adds that rent increases are compounding the strain on whānau.
Budget advisers are feeling it too. Supervisor and financial mentor Jenny Reynolds of Kingdom Resources, says families on low incomes struggle to cover basic expenses. “Take away their rent, take away their power… add your food, add your clothing… there's just no money. There’s no money left.”
Agencies that offer free budgeting support like Kingdom Resources are under pressure after funding cuts. “At a time when we are seeing growing unemployment, growing child poverty, especially on a material level… agencies like ours are looking at becoming extinct. If we do not get some funding in place, where do these people go?” Reynolds says.
Government response
Tahu News sought comment from ministers leading the move-on legislation but received no response.
“But I am promising this: a government that puts the cost of living first.” Meanwhile this week, opposing party leader Chris Hipkins spoke up on the matter of affordability, promising “... A government that partners with business to create jobs and raise wages. A government that invests in our people and backs our potential”.
The proposed move-on policy is continuing to be discussed by political parties, while the public watches closely.
|
|
|
ŌTAUTAHI — E ai ki ngā tāngata e noho ana ki ngā tiriti ka taea e ngā whakahau “move-on” e huri ana te hē ki te ture mō tā rātou whai ora i waenganui i te piki haere o ngā utu noho me te heke iho o te whai wāhi ki ngā whare ohorere puta noa i Aotearoa.
I raro i te tūtohu ture a Te Pāti Nāhinara, ka āhei ngā pirihimana ki te tuku panui move-on mō ngā haora 24 ki ngā tāngata e whakaatu ana i ngā whanonga kino, whakararuraru, whakahē rānei; e aukati ana i tētahi ki te kuhu ki tētahi pakihi; e takahi ana i te rangimārie; me ngā momo pītoto, tae atu ki te moe kāinga kore. Mēnā kāore rātou e whakaae, ka whiua whaina te utu $2,000, ka mauherea rānei mō te toru marama.
“It’s a bit over the top just for needing some support,” hei tā Matthew Rosewarne, he tangata kāinga kore e noho ana ki ngā tiriti o Ōtautahi.
E ai ki a Rosewarne me arotahi te pirihimana ki te tautoko, kaua ki te whakauruhi. “If they’re more supportive on their side maybe we’d be a bit more motivated too, we’d be more keen and willing to do other things.”
Ko tā Tamati John Taylor, tētahi atu tāngata kua moe kāinga kore, i te pītoto hoki hei tautoko i tōna whānau, e piki ana ngā utu. “We still need extra money … we still can’t afford to buy clothes … we live on the cheapest to the cheapest stuff just to get by and it’s hard, it’s real hard.” E kata ana ia “I guess I’m back to being a criminal again, aren’t I.”
E whakapuaki ana ngā ratonga tautoko i ō rātou whakaaro
E kī ana ngā rōpū e tautoko ana i ngā tāngata kāinga kore, ehara i te otinga ngā whakahau move-on.
E ai ki a Jill Hawkey, te kaiwhakahaere o te Christchurch Methodist Mission, e whakahaere ana i tehōtaka Housing First i Ōtautahi, kāore tēnei whakahau e whai hua ana mō ngā tāngata kāinga kore. “They don’t make any sense at all. It’s only moving on the problem from one suburb to the next suburb. It’s not addressing the issue of homelessness in the slightest.”
E kī ana ia, ko te wero nui ko te whakatū whare. “Actually, let’s look at some good emergency housing for people or actually invest in building some more long-term permanent social housing. That’s our shortage.”
E whakamārama ana a Hawkey me pēhea te mahi a Housing First. Tuatahi ka whiwhi ngā tāngata i ngā whare, kātahi ka tautokohia mō ngā utu whakatū, ngā mea whare, me te arataki. “We see it works. People have graduated from our programme because they no longer actually require the support. We’ve seen them go on to study, gain employment, and re-establish relationships with family.”
E whakakite hoki ia i te pānga nui ki ngā Māori. “At the moment over 50% in Christchurch alone are Māori … it’s something we need to be paying particular attention to.”
Ko tā Corinne Haine, nō te Christchurch City Mission i Ōtautahi, kāore ngā whaina e tika ana mō te hunga rawa kore. “If they had money to pay a fine of two thousand dollars, they wouldn’t be living on the street.”
Te heke iho o te whai wāhi ki ngā whare ohorere i waenga i ngā pikinga utu
E whakaatu ana ngā raraunga a Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora i te heke tino nui o te whakamahi i ngā pūtea tautoko whakatū whare ohorere, i heke iho ngā nama putea tautoko mai i te 6,429 i te Paengawhāwhā o tērā tau ki te 1,290 i te Mahuru. I heke hoki ngā whakapaunga mai i te $23.04 miriona ki te $3.07 miriona.
I heke iho te tokomaha o te hunga kei ngā whare ohorere mai i te 2,532 ki te 438 i taua wā tonu. Kua kī te kāwanatanga e hiahia ana rātou ki te whakaiti i te whakawhirinaki ki ngā whare ohorere me ngā hōtēra, me te huri ki ngā otinga whare mō te wā roa.
E whakaatu ana ngā raraunga kua kaha ake ngā paearu mō ngā whare ohorere i ngā tau tata nei. Nō te Akuhata o 2024, i whakatūria e MSD ngā ture hou, tae atu ki ngā kawenata mō ngā kaitono me ngā take hou hei whakakore i ngā tono, pēnei i te āhua mehemea i “caused or contributed to their immediate need”. I whai hua ngā ture hou ki te piki o ngā tono kua whakakorehia, mai i te 3% i Poutūterangi 2023 ki te 37.7% i Mahuru 2025.
E piki ana ngā utu noho i te pēhanga
E ai ki Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga, tata ki te 46% o ngā kairīhi e whakapau ana i te 30% o tō rātou pūtea ki te whare, he raraunga ine mō te pēhanga noho.
Hei tā te Kaihono a Terangiparutini Tipa o Tūpono Mana Tangata, te kaitautoko o ngā whānau Māori i ia rā, e piki ana ngā utu o ngā mea matua o te whare. “Butter costs around nine bucks, cheese 15 dollars … even milk is cheaper from the warehouse than the supermarket,. E tāpiri ana ia, e piki ana ngā utu rīhi, he mea e whakapiki ana i te pēhanga ki ngā whānau.
E pā ana hoki ki ngā kaiwhakarato pūtea. Ko tā Jenny Reynolds, he kaiwhakahaere me te kaitohutohu pūtea i Kingdom Resources, ka uaua te whānau me ngā utu o ia rā. “Take away their rent, take away their power … add your food, add your clothing … there’s just no money. There’s no money left.”
E pā hoki ki ngā rōpū pēnei i Kingdom Resources i muri i ngā tapahia pūtea. “At a time when we are seeing growing unemployment, growing child poverty, especially on a material level … agencies like ours are looking at becoming extinct. If we do not get some funding in place, where do these people go?” e kī ana a Reynolds.
Whakautu a te Kāwanatanga
I pātai a Tahu News ki ngā minita e ārahi ana i te ture move-on, kāore he whakautu i tae mai.
“But I am promising this: a government that puts the cost of living first.”
Engari, nō tēnei wiki, i puta te kōrero a te rangatira o Te Rōpū Reipa a Chris Hipkins, mō te take utu noho. I kupu taurangi ia “… A government that partners with business to create jobs and raise wages. A government that invests in our people and backs our potential..”
Ka kōrero tonu ngā pātī tōrangapū i tēnei kaupapa move-on, ā, e āta mātaki ana te marea.