Controversial move-on orders challenged on national day of action
• March 26, 2026
Sunday Blessings is a community group that feeds up to 200+ people each Sunday evening. Photo: supplied
A national day of action is planned by communities throughout New Zealand this Sunday against the Government's move-on orders which came into effect last month.
Police have been given permission by the Government to issue move-on orders to people experiencing homelessness in public spaces.
The move-on orders will require recipients to leave the area for a specified period, which may be up to 24 hours.
It will apply to those over the age of 14.
The National Day of Action (NDOA) is a public rally to raise awareness about the Government's move-on orders.
Auckland's rally organised by several community groups will be held in Aotea Square at 5pm.
Community groups running the rallies in Auckland will include Kick Back, Kaiāwhina, Sunday Blessings, People Against Prisons Aotearoa and Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga.
Sunday Blessings co-founder Danielle LeGallais says NDOA is a nationwide collaborative activation involving a variety of groups which stand in strong opposition to the proposed move-on orders.
“Myself and a team of lawyers are creating an easy-to-read pamphlet for our street whānau which arms them with tips on how to stay safe when approached by police,” said LeGallais.
According to the Salvation Army's national homelessness data project, the Auckland region count of known homelessness has more than doubled over the past year; from 426 to 940 people.
More than 26 per cent are Māori, who are impacted disproportionately, with one third of homeless women identifying as Māori.
Amnesty International, the global independent human rights organisation, said it believed most New Zealanders would agree criminalising and imprisoning a person without a physical address, and potentially struggling with addictions, is abhorrent.
Some of the solutions being called for by communities include resources for immediate housing support and implementing duty to assist legislation to support kaupapa Māori housing.
“It is community, not custody that empowers our whānau out of survival on the streets.
“Invest in wrap-around services instead of this inhumane legislation that in effect will also clog up our already overwhelmed justice system,” said LeGallais.
