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March 26, 2026
#national: Nationwide action builds against Move-On orders as housing advocates call for dignity and long-term solutions
Dale Husband
Posted On March 26, 2026
Communities across Aotearoa are preparing for coordinated nationwide action this weekend in opposition to the Government’s proposed Move-On orders, with organiser Aaron Hendry describing the mobilisation as a collective stand for housing justice, dignity, and a more compassionate response to homelessness.
The movement has grown rapidly, drawing together frontline workers, advocates, iwi groups, and community organisations who say the policy risks targeting those already experiencing hardship rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness. The nationwide response reflects months, and in some cases years, of grassroots organising shaped by lived experience, outreach work, and increasing pressure on housing services.
Hendry says the mobilisation is grounded in what communities are seeing every day – rising numbers of people without stable housing, stretched support services, and growing frustration that enforcement-based approaches are being prioritised over meaningful solutions.
Sunday’s actions are expected to take place in centres across the motu, with a focus on visibility, solidarity, and shifting the public conversation. Organisers say the demonstrations are not only about opposing the Move-On orders but also about asserting a broader vision for housing in Aotearoa – one that recognises housing as a fundamental right and prioritises care over compliance.
The movement is closely linked to wider calls for systemic change, including increased investment in public housing, stronger support for outreach and wraparound services, and a greater role for kaupapa Māori housing solutions. Advocates argue that Māori are disproportionately affected by homelessness and that any effective response must be led in partnership with Māori and grounded in tikanga and whānau-centred approaches.
There is also a focus on strengthening connections between organisations working in the space, with organisers seeing the coordinated action as a way to build long-term momentum. By bringing together diverse groups under a shared kaupapa, the movement aims to create sustained pressure for change beyond a single day of protest.
Looking ahead, success is being measured not only by opposition to the proposed legislation but by the ability to reshape how homelessness is understood and addressed in Aotearoa. Advocates say that means moving away from short-term, enforcement-driven responses and toward solutions that prioritise housing, support, and dignity.
As the debate intensifies, the weekend’s nationwide action signals a growing push from communities for policies that reflect the realities on the ground – and a demand for a system that responds to homelessness with compassion rather than punishment.
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