Psychiatrists in Aotearoa New Zealand have raised serious concerns about new move-on orders which grant police powers to remove people as young as 14 from public spaces for sleeping rough, disorderly behaviour or begging.

Tū Te Akaaka Roa, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) New Zealand National Office, warns that the orders risk criminalising poverty, homelessness and mental illness without addressing any of the root causes driving the anti-social behaviours they seek to curb.

"Safety is genuinely important and we share people’s concerns about the need to make our communities safer, but the evidence is clear that these kinds of enforcement measures do not make communities safer," said Dr Hiran Thabrew, Chair of Tū Te Akaaka Roa.

"Research consistently shows sustained investment in community housing, accessible mental health and addiction services, and early intervention and diversion programs are far more effective at improving safety outcomes for everyone.

 "People need a roof over their heads, meaningful social connections, financial security, employment and education opportunities and access to quality physical and mental health care to lead stable, fulfilling lives."

Dr Thabrew said the College was particularly worried about the inclusion of people as young as 14 in the scope of the orders.

"Young people who are sleeping rough or engaging in disorderly behaviour are almost always doing so because they are already in crisis,” he said. 

“Punishing them instead of connecting them with the wrap-around support they need risks causing lasting harm at a critical point in their development."

The international evidence base on criminalising homelessness has repeatedly shown that enforcement-based approaches do not reduce rough sleeping or antisocial behaviour over time. Last year, new clinical studies undertaken in New South Wales, Australia, found that increased mental health support helps break the cycle of incarceration and drive down recidivism.

Instead, measures like these can displace people into less visible and more dangerous situations, sever connections to health and social services, deepen distrust of authorities, and worsen long-term mental health and addiction outcomes.

"Move-on orders don't move problems on, unfortunately. They merely upend unhoused people temporarily and at great personal cost," Dr Thabrew said. 

"People return to the same streets because they have nowhere else. Nothing has changed except that they are now more isolated, more traumatised, and harder to reach.

"We urge the government to work with mental health and housing sectors, with people who have lived experience of homelessness, and with communities to develop long term solutions to improving community safety that are humane, effective, and grounded in evidence."

For media inquiries, please contact: Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org

For all other expert mental health information visit Your Health in Mind, the RANZCP’s consumer health information website.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention.