What are ‘Move On’ laws in New Zealand?

‘Move On’ laws allow authorities to remove people, including those experiencing homelessness, from certain public spaces.

Why are ‘Move On’ laws being criticised?

Critics argue the laws criminalise homelessness rather than addressing its root causes, such as lack of affordable housing.

What is the Alliance Party proposing instead?

The Alliance Party is calling for a return to state-led housing solutions, including a new Ministry of Works and large-scale public housing development.

What is the National Day of Action about?

The National Day of Action is a coordinated protest against the Government’s ‘Move On’ laws and broader housing policies.

Alliance Backs Protest Against ‘Move On’ Laws

As homelessness continues to rise, opposition to the Government’s “Move On” legislation is intensifying — with calls for systemic housing reform and a shift away from market-led solutions.

Alliance Joins National Day of Action

The Alliance Party is joining the National Day of Action against the Government’s “Move On” legislation this Sunday, 29 March 2026.

Criticism of “Move On” Laws

Alliance Party Housing Spokesperson Nicolas Pegg says the Government’s “Move On” orders are a moral and practical failure to deal with the homelessness crisis.

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He will be speaking at the Christchurch Ōtautahi Rally in Latimer Square from 11am–1pm on Sunday 29 March 2026.

Housing as Essential Infrastructure

Pegg argues for a radical shift toward treating housing as essential social infrastructure.

He says the current state of housing in Aotearoa is a scandal that reveals a nation failing to look after its own.

“Homelessness is not a crime, it is a scandal … a great shame in a country as wealthy as Aotearoa New Zealand.”

“The Government seems to want to use the full weight of the law against people who are already struggling. This does not fix the problem, it only deepens the harm and abandons Kiwi values of caring and dignity.”

A Policy Alternative to Market-Led Housing

The Alliance Party is highlighting its alternative to the “market-led” policies that Pegg argues have failed New Zealanders for decades.

The Return of a Ministry of Works

Central to the Alliance platform is the re-establishment of a Ministry of Works for the 21st Century to spearhead a massive Public Housing Building Programme.

“The private sector cannot deliver affordability when profit is the priority at every stage of development,” Pegg says.

“This is a problem that successive governments have failed and refused to address. We need to stop relying on private market mechanisms and return to direct state provision.”

Key Housing Policy Proposals

The Alliance Party’s housing solutions include:

Housing as Infrastructure: Reclassifying state, council, and community housing as essential social infrastructure, funded with the same priority as transport and water networks.
KiwiWorks: A 21st Century Ministry of Works, dedicated to building high-quality, sustainable, and universal state housing, that is affordable for all.
Ending Homelessness: Moving beyond emergency motels and “Move On” orders to a rights-based approach that guarantees secure, permanent housing for all.
Renter Security: Strengthening the rights of tenants and implementing strict regulation of the rental market to ensure every New Zealander has a safe and healthy home.

A Call for Systemic Change

Pegg says New Zealanders should support the Alliance alternative that puts people before speculation and victimisation.

“Move On orders are not a solution, they are a vile attempt to cover up failed social and economic policies. It is time to fund housing and support services properly and treat our whānau with the dignity they deserve. If we want real change, we have to build a movement for a country that works for working people.”