March 05, 2026

#hauora: Hāpai Te Hauora Warns Move-On Orders Will Not Solve Homelessness

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 5, 2026

A Māori public health organisation is warning that proposed law changes giving police greater power to move people on from public spaces risk shifting homelessness out of sight rather than addressing its root causes.

The concerns follow government proposals to amend the Summary Offences Act, which would allow police to issue move-on orders requiring individuals to leave a public area for up to 24 hours. The powers would apply in situations involving rough sleeping, begging and behaviour considered disorderly, and could be used on young people aged 14 and over.

Hāpai Te Hauora, a national Māori public health organisation, says the proposal focuses on visibility in city centres rather than tackling the drivers of homelessness.

The organisation says the reality is that homelessness does not occur suddenly. It is often the result of multiple pressures including housing shortages, rising rents, income insecurity, family violence, unmet mental health needs and long-standing structural inequities.

Data in recent years has highlighted the growing scale of the issue. In Auckland, homelessness has reportedly more than doubled in the past year, while nationally around one in seven tamariki are living in material hardship. Advocates say these trends are closely connected, with rising living costs and limited housing supply placing increasing pressure on whānau.

When households are forced to balance the cost of rent against food and other essentials, and when incomes fail to keep pace with living costs, the risk of homelessness increases. Public health advocates argue that removing people from particular locations does little to change these underlying conditions.

The organisation also points to the disproportionate impact homelessness has on Māori. While Māori make up around 17 percent of Aotearoa’s population, they represent roughly 31 percent of those experiencing severe housing deprivation.

Advocates say that imbalance reflects broader structural barriers, including limited access to stable housing, lower income security and challenges in the rental market. Research has also found evidence of discrimination in rental applications, with applicants who have Māori-identifying names receiving fewer responses from landlords.

Housing advocates say these pressures combine to create a system where Māori households are more likely to experience overcrowding and insecure housing.

Hāpai Te Hauora leaders say the statistics highlight deeper systemic issues within the housing system and underline the need for policies that address the drivers of homelessness rather than simply managing its visibility.

The organisation argues that housing is widely recognised internationally as a fundamental human right and that disproportionate homelessness among Māori signals a system that is failing to deliver equitable outcomes.

Public health advocates also say enforcement-focused approaches risk displacing already vulnerable people without providing solutions. Move-on orders do not increase housing supply, raise incomes, connect people to health or social services, or address trauma that can contribute to homelessness.

Instead, critics say the orders may move people from one location to another while leaving the underlying issues unchanged.

The organisation says homelessness should be treated as a public health issue, rather than a public nuisance. Stable housing, access to support services and stronger community connections are seen as key factors in improving wellbeing and reducing harm.

The proposed changes to the Summary Offences Act have not yet become law and will continue to be debated as part of the legislative process.

Hāpai Te Hauora says it will continue advocating for solutions that focus on the structural causes of homelessness, particularly those affecting Māori communities.

Public health leaders say that when whānau have secure housing and support, communities are safer and stronger, and long-term wellbeing becomes possible.