Labour leader Chris Hipkins has promised to end the criminalisation of homelessness if his party returns to power, as legislation giving police new move-on powers progresses through Parliament.
The bill before select committee would give police authority to issue move-on orders to individuals aged 14 and older for being disorderly, begging, sleeping rough or attempting to inhabit public spaces, with potential jail terms for those who do not comply.
Auckland City Mission chief executive Helen Robinson said 200 beds would be required to house rough sleepers in central Auckland if the orders were enforced. The mission currently has 20 beds available for emergency use and closes at 5pm daily. Robinson said there is no accommodation option in central Auckland after 6pm for people needing support.
Robinson told RNZ she felt "distressed, concerned, agitated, worried, confused and upset" about the proposal, and that rough sleeping had reached a level not seen in her 13 years at the mission. She said approximately 1000 beds across Auckland would be needed to meet current demand for homelessness support.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday he had been unaware central Auckland had no night shelter. A day later, he told media he remained comfortable with including rough sleepers in the move-on regime, saying "we need to make sure that people coming into our cities do not feel intimidated, that there isn't disruption, that there isn't disturbance".
The Government is continuing with the legislation despite the accommodation gap.