Our trip to Parliament - what we saw and what it all means!

Recently a few of us headed to Parliament for the first time to watch and listen to the first reading of the move-on orders legislation.

This legislation would give police the power to issue move-on orders to people deemed to be engaging in disorderly or disruptive behaviour in public places including rough sleeping and begging. Police could direct someone to move on, and those who refuse could face prosecution. And people as young as 14 could be subject to these orders.

......... and AUE - WHAT. A. PLACE and WHAT. AN. EXPERIENCE.

We learned that……. Entry stickers hold more power than you'd think!  There are security gates and security people everywhere (and quite a few Police!), but the gallery was packed with community faces we know from the streets of Pōneke. People who show up. People who care.

Then the long debate started. Watching politicians talk and yell over each other, repeat themselves, throw personal digs -  we were sitting up in the gallery thinking, how does anything get resolved in a room built like this? It felt like watching children fight, except the decisions made at the end of their tantrums affect real lives. It all felt disappointing and it felt unsafe.

BUT there were voices that gave us something to hold onto. Tamatha, Camilla, Orini - loud, real, grounded in what community already know and live.

They spoke clearly to what this legislation will do - hit the most vulnerable, the hardest. 

Māori. 

People experiencing homelessness. 

Those already doing it the toughest.

Then it came time to vote yes or no to pass this legislation - the votes came in -  68 voted yes  and 55 voted no. So just like that the move-on orders legislation passed its first reading - regardless of those loud, strong, factual voices.

After quite a few hours, we walked out of Parliament with our entry stickers still on! And a whole lot of frustration. Because when you don't have the numbers, the bill still passes!

Today's episode is about wearing hope like a crown. In this election year when we're all deciding who and what to vote for - we are really handing our hope to someone to wear and represent. Your vote is how that hope moves. It's how it gets into that room!

You can make a submission - read Move on Orders- Make a Submission! blog for more info.

So e te whanau - enrol. Vote for what you hope for.  Because if we don't have enough of our voices in that room, shitty bills like the move-or orders will keep getting through. 68 to 55.

You can enrol or update your details at vote.nz , call 0800 36 76 56, or text your name and address to 3676 to request a form.

Remember if you whakapapa Māori, you can choose the Māori roll or General roll. The deadline to switch is midnight, 6 August 2026.

We Have The Choice! Our protest sign proudly on display, along with our HG Tuakana, Kaizah - at Newtwon Festival 2026.