Many of you will know the government’s move-on orders Bill is currently before Parliament. The Bill gives police the power to require people sleeping rough or begging in public to leave an area for up to 24 hours, with fines or imprisonment for those who do not comply. The Attorney-General has found parts of the Bill inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act, and we are deeply concerned about what it will mean for the people we serve.
One of the hardest things I have had to do as missioner was standing in front of our rough sleeping community after these orders were announced, and apologising on our collective behalf for the harm and marginalisation they will cause. I could not explain why this was happening. I could only make a promise, grounded in the Mission’s 106-year history, that HomeGround will always be a place of refuge, and that here, no one will ever be moved on.
We will keep speaking up. But the voices that matter most right now are yours.
Your MP needs to hear from you. The Mission’s day services close at 5pm. Our immediate access beds are full. Emergency housing referrals have effectively stopped. When people are moved on from the city, they will go somewhere, and that somewhere is your suburb, your town centre, your local park.
We are asking parish members to write to or meet with your local MP and ask them one simple question: How will you ensure people who are moved on from central Auckland are supported when they arrive in our community?
Thank you for standing with us, and with the people we serve, in this kaupapa.
Helen Robinson
City Missioner, Auckland City Mission, Te Tāpui Atawhai
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