New police powers to ‘move on’ rough sleepers only mask NZ’s deeper homelessness problem

Getty Images The government s plan to empower police to “issue move on orders as a tool to deal with disorderly behaviour in public places” will effectively apply to people as young as 14 who are experiencing homelessness and who “obstruct” access to businesses, beg or sleep rough. Critics have called the policy unworkable and “draconian”, particularly the provisions for NZ 2 000 fines or up to three months in prison as penalties for breaches. While the approach may move people out of central