Government to give police power to issue move-on orders

The Government is providing police with the power to issue move-on orders to deal with disorderly behaviour in public places, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say.

The proposed changes would amend the Summary Offences Act and allow police to require people to leave a specified area for up to 24 hours.

Goldsmith says the move is aimed at addressing growing disruption in town centres and tourist areas.

“New Zealanders are fair-minded people, and our culture is one where we seek to help those who are in need, but that doesn’t mean we should accept our city centres, particularly our showcase tourist spots, becoming places of intimidation and dysfunction,” he says.

“Our main streets and town centres have been blighted by disruption and disturbance. Businesses are declining as some bad behaviour goes unchecked. It needs to stop.”

Under the proposed changes, police would be able to issue move-on orders to people displaying disorderly, disruptive, threatening or intimidating behaviour, obstructing entry to businesses, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, or behaving in a way that indicates an intent to inhabit a public place. The orders would apply to people aged 14 or older and would require them to move a reasonable distance away from the area as specified by a constable.

Mitchell says the changes are about giving frontline officers practical tools to respond before behaviour escalates.

The Pukekohe Business Association says the measures could help address ongoing antisocial behaviour affecting the town centre.

General manager Shawna Coleman says the association supports move-on powers where they are effective, but they must be used alongside support services.

“Businesses invest significantly in their premises and people, and it is reasonable to expect that access to businesses is not disrupted by repeated disorder outside their premises,” she says.

Coleman says initiatives such as the association’s Good Guys ambassador programme, launched in 2025 to provide an extra set of “eyes and ears” in the town centre, show the value of early engagement and coordination with police and council.

A survey by the Salvation Army found homelessness had either risen or remained unchanged in every region of the country, with the number of people experiencing homelessness in Auckland doubling in 2025.

Auckland Council director of community Rachel Kelleher says it is too early to comment on the proposed law change, but the council will continue working with outreach partners and police to connect people sleeping rough with support services.