Rough sleepers at the Oval tent village in Dunedin. The powers will mean police can move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour as young as 14 years old. Last November, it was reported the government was considering measures to move homeless people out of Auckland's city centre. Nationwide, there were 428 public order, health and safety offence proceedings in December 2025, compared to 1663 in December 2015. Earlier this year, the Wellington City Mission said it would actively oppose any move-on orders if they were implemented without support services.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 21, 2026 22:15 UTC