Media Release: Wellington community leaders issue open letter to Government, saying no to “Move-On” orders

Wellington community leaders issue open letter to Government, saying no to “Move-On” orders

Community leaders from across the Wellington region have issued an open letter to Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, opposing the Government’s proposed introduction of “Move-On” orders.

The letter has been signed by Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little, and all other mayors in the region, Mana Whenua representatives, social service agencies and local church leaders. The letter warns the policy risks causing harm to people experiencing homelessness and fails to address the underlying causes of hardship in the community.

Signatories say Wellington has been working collaboratively across social services, local government and Police to respond to homelessness in a compassionate and innovative way, and they are calling on the Government to work with the region on solutions that genuinely support people.

The Wellington City Mission is a signatory to this open letter, supports its message, and has helped coordinate its release.

The full open letter is included below.

Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand

10 March 2026
The Right Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister

Tēnā koe Prime Minister

Wellington says NO to Move-On orders

“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members” – Mahatma Gandhi

We, the undersigned community leaders of the Wellington region want to express our concern and disappointment at the Government’s announcement on 22 February 2026 of the pending introduction of Move-On orders to the Summary Offences Act 1981. This will allow Police to relocate people from certain places because of the perceived impact they are having on others in the community.

Whilst we accept and understand that anti-social behaviour on the part of some must be able to be responded to, we don’t consider that moving a person to some other unspecified place fixes the problem, nor does anything to address the issues that individual is dealing with, and in fact, potentially causes significant harm.

Homelessness is a growing issue that is being felt throughout New Zealand. It is a complex and multi-faceted social challenge, the responsibility for which resides with all of us. Social agencies throughout this country are working tirelessly to ensure that people in the community who are struggling, are given the support they need to change their life’s trajectory.

Your own statements on this issue in December 2025 were clear that people weren’t just going to be moved, they were to be supported to improve their circumstances. How the Government will facilitate this to happen, remains unclear.

In Wellington, our social agencies, Wellington City Council and Police, are working together to address some of the challenges that homelessness brings – to business, to the community, but most importantly to the individual experiencing homelessness. This is an innovative, collaborative, and nuanced approach that we believe will achieve the best outcomes for all.

We see the introduction of Move-On orders as a superficial and unhelpful approach that has the potential to cause real harm to those members of our community that are most vulnerable. For this reason, we want to advise you that Move-On orders are not welcome in this region.

We look forward to working with your Government to find some compassionate and well-considered solutions to these issues.

Ngā mihi nui

  • Andrew Little Mayor of Wellington
  • Ken Laban Mayor of Hutt City
  • Peri Zee Mayor of Upper Hutt
  • Anita Baker Mayor of Porirua
  • Janet Holborow Mayor of Kapiti Coast District Council
  • Kura Moeahu Tiamana, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui
  • Wirangi Luke Tumu Whakarae, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui
  • Callum Kātene Tumuaki, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira
  • Helmut Modlik Tumu Whakarae, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira
  • Justin Duckworth Anglican Bishop of Wellington
  • Paul Martin SM Catholic Archbishop of Wellington
  • Joel Cramer Lutheran Church
  • Murray Edridge Wellington City Missioner, Wellington City Mission
  • Bonnie Robinson Research and Justice Stream Lead and Director,
    Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, Salvation Army
  • Natalia Cleland Manahautū, Downtown Community Ministries (DCM)
  • Mike Hinton Chief Executive, He Herenga Kura
  • David Hanna Director, Wesley Community Action
  • Carmel McKee Catholic Social Services Director, Catholic Social Services
  • Serena Moran Clinic Lead, Te Aro Health Centre
  • Sam Johnson Manager, Compassion Soup Kitchen
  • Manjit Grewal Co-Founder EKTA New Zealand

ENDS

For all media enquiries, contact joe@wcm.org.nz

About Whakamaru

Whakamaru is a 24/7 community facility that exists to provide stability, offer care, and restore dignity to those who are struggling. It brings together housing, food support, social connection, and community support services, all under one roof.

Through Whakamaru, the Wellington City Mission seeks to achieve empowerment, transformation, and fullness of life for everyone in our community.