Police in New Zealand are set to gain new authority to clear people from public areas for up to 24 hours, under planned law changes the Government says will help restore safety and confidence in town centres and key tourist precincts.
The proposed reforms would amend the Summary Offences Act to introduce written “move-on” orders — giving officers a faster tool to respond to behaviour that ministers argue is disruptive or intimidating but does not always meet the threshold for an arrestable offence.
What the new move-on orders would allow
Under the planned changes, a constable could direct a person aged 14 or older to leave a specified area for up to 24 hours. The orders are intended to apply to situations including rough sleeping, all forms of begging, behaviour indicating an intent to inhabit a public place, and conduct described as disorderly, disruptive, threatening or intimidating.
The Government’s outline says the person would need to move a reasonable distance away from the area, as specified by the officer, and that the notice would be issued in writing where operationally appropriate.
Penalties for breaching an order
Breaching a valid move-on order would carry a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment. Officers issuing an order would be required to warn the person that breaching it is an offence, unless the individual has a reasonable excuse for being there.
Government’s case: a tool for public safety
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the changes are aimed at preventing main streets and civic spaces from sliding into “intimidation and dysfunction”, arguing police currently have limited options to intervene early when behaviour is distressing or potentially harmful but not clearly criminal.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the shift is designed to strengthen public safety and give frontline officers additional enforcement options, while still allowing discretion based on the circumstances of each situation.
Where criticism is focused
Frontline social service providers have warned that move-on powers risk displacing vulnerable people rather than reducing homelessness. Critics argue that ordering someone away from a location can shift rough sleeping into less visible and potentially more dangerous areas, without addressing the underlying drivers of homelessness.
Service organisations have repeatedly pointed to long-term housing solutions — including access to emergency accommodation, stable permanent housing, and wraparound support for mental health and addiction — as the measures most likely to reduce rough sleeping over time.
Legislation still to come
The amendments must go through the full legislative process before they can take effect. Until that happens, the move-on orders remain a proposal — but the announcement signals a tougher enforcement approach in public places alongside ongoing debate over the most effective way to reduce rough sleeping.
For the Government’s official outline of the proposed move-on orders, see the Government release.
