{"id":303716,"date":"2026-02-26T20:29:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T20:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/303716\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T20:29:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T20:29:35","slug":"sunlive-fears-over-new-police-move-on-powers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/303716\/","title":{"rendered":"SunLive – Fears over new police move-on powers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some Tauranga business owners pleased by new police powers to make homeless people and beggars move have also expressed concern about their long-term effectiveness.<\/p>\n

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Local social support groups warned the law change risked causing \u201creal harm\u201d to vulnerable residents and said it was not a solution to underlying issues.<\/p>\n

Under the plan, police could issue move\u2011on orders<\/a> to anyone aged 14 and over begging or rough sleeping, or whose behaviour was considered disruptive, threatening or intimidating.<\/p>\n

Orders could exclude a person from an area for up to 24 hours. Breaches carry a maximum penalty of a $2000 fine or three months in prison.<\/p>\n

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Homelessness-related complaints<\/a> to theTauranga City Council have more than doubled since 2021, and while several CBD business owners told the Bay of Plenty Times they backed the tougher approach, some doubted its effectiveness.<\/p>\n

Mas Eden, owner of Turkish to Go on Devonport Rd, said he often dealt with people requesting food or approaching customers for money.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome homeless people are nice, and I\u2019ve given them food,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut others cause big disturbances when drinking or taking drugs, and won\u2019t take no for an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

He doubted fines or prison time would be effective, given some people had already been trespassed from multiple sites.<\/p>\n

\"Turkish

\nTurkish to Go Tauranga cafe owner Mas Eden. Photo \/ Sandra Conchie<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething needs to be done, but when people are moved on, they also need support \u2013 whether that\u2019s help finding work or access to addiction or mental health programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tauranga City Lotto owner Raj Kumar said he was \u201c50\/50\u2033 on the new powers.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot all homeless people cause problems,\u201d he said. \u201cBut when some are using drugs and yelling at people, it negatively affects our business and our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

One retailer, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the new powers were overdue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is too much begging, too many disruptions and sometimes shoppers are hesitant to come inside when homeless people are gathered outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand some of the homeless have mental health issues \u2013 but I\u2019m also trying to run a business.”<\/p>\n

\"Belongings

\nBelongings left in a doorway on The Strand, Tauranga. Photo \/ Ayla Yeoman<\/p>\n

Another CBD owner, who also spoke on the condition he was not identified, said he had also experienced homeless people begging for food, and a homeless youth recently broke a window, which he could not afford to fix.<\/p>\n

Stronger measures were essential to protect businesses and rebuild customers\u2019 confidence in visiting the CBD, he said.<\/p>\n

The general manager of service organisation Under the Stars, Ani Stace, said she understood concerns about safety in public spaces, but feared move-on powers would \u201ccause real harm\u201d to some of the city\u2019s most vulnerable residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery week we see people sleeping rough, battling addiction, navigating mental illness, or simply stuck in a system with too few pathways forward \u2013 they don\u2019t wake up on cold concrete and think \u2018today\u2019s a great day to disrupt the peace\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stace said moving homeless people around did not move them closer to a home, treatment, or stability \u2013 it simply made their suffering less visible.<\/p>\n

\"

\nUnder the Stars strategic general manager Ani Stace.<\/p>\n

She urged the Government to ensure \u201crobust, funded support services\u201d sat alongside the new powers.<\/p>\n

Wayne Shadbolt, who runs the T\u016bmanako Project at Oak Lane Community Church (formerly the Lifezone Church) in Judea, said the change would be like a \u201ctwo\u2011edged sword\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can move people on, but without the proper supports, the underlying issues remain.\u201d<\/p>\n

A \u201cgenuine solution\u201d was needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of our homeless are dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. There has to be more government funding for voluntary support service providers who are working with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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What the politicians say<\/p>\n

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell said business owners and city councillors had specifically requested move\u2011on powers and the Government had delivered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will make our city safer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Tauranga

\nTauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Photo \/ Rosalie Liddle Crawford<\/p>\n

Uffindell acknowledged the city continued to grapple with deep\u2011seated addiction and mental\u2011health problems, particularly relating to methamphetamine.<\/p>\n

He said there was still much work to do to support these \u201cvulnerable\u201d members of society.<\/p>\n

Labour MP Jan Tinetti criticised the plan as a \u201cband\u2011aid\u201d measure that would not fix the housing shortage in Tauranga or across the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople here are already under pressure from rising costs, and we need real solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Labour

\nLabour MP Jan Tinetti.<\/p>\n

Tinetti said the Government cut the funding and stopped public housing builds, which had cost construction jobs and left Tauranga short of homes families need.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey made the situation much worse, and this announcement doesn\u2019t change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tauranga Mayor Mah\u00e9 Drysdale welcomed efforts to address homelessness issues, but said move\u2011on powers alone would not deliver a long\u2011term solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike many cities, Tauranga is experiencing the impacts of homelessness and disruptive behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said it was positive to see the Government looking at ways to respond, but short\u2011term move\u2011on orders treated symptoms rather than the underlying causes.<\/p>\n

\"Tauranga

\nTauranga Mayor Mah\u00e9 Drysdale. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople cannot simply be moved on without somewhere appropriate to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drysdale said addressing homelessness remained a focus for him and the city councillors.<\/p>\n

Meaningful progress required a \u201cco-ordinated, multi-agency\u201d effort involving the council, central government agencies such as health services, housing providers, police, iwi and community partners.<\/p>\n

Move-on orders<\/p>\n

The Government has agreed to amend the Summary Offences Act to provide police with the power to issue move-on orders to people who are:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Displaying disorderly, disruptive, threatening or intimidating behaviour<\/p>\n

\u2013 Obstructing or impeding someone entering a business<\/p>\n

\u2013 Breaching the peace<\/p>\n

\u2013 Begging, in all forms<\/p>\n

\u2013 Rough sleeping<\/p>\n

\u2013 Displaying behaviour indicating an intent to inhabit a public place.<\/p>\n

These rules will come into effect after a law change, likely before the November election.<\/p>\n

Sandra Conchie<\/a> is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional\/community reporter of the year.<\/p>\n

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