Key Takeaways
- Caitlin McDonald, a Christchurch woman with a kidney transplant, died after less than two years of rough sleeping, chronicling her experience in over 460 YouTube videos.
- Her mother, Wendy Proffitt, testified before Parliament’s justice committee that the proposed Summary Offences (Move‑on Orders) Amendment Bill would have pushed her daughter into more dangerous situations and accelerated a preventable death.
- The bill would empowering legislation allows police to issue 24‑hour “move‑on” orders to rough sleepers, beggars, or anyone behaving in a threatening or intimidating manner in public spaces.
- Critics—including the Police Association, homelessness advocates, and the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness—argue the measure treats symptoms rather than root causes, risks further marginalisation, and could increase isolation and violence, especially for women.
- Government officials contend the orders fill a legislative gap for behaviours not currently covered by existing offences and stress that the bill is only one part of a broader housing and support strategy.
- Recent data show roughly 5,000 people nationwide lack shelter, with Māori over‑represented; some regions report stabilising numbers, while others note a rise over the past six months.
- Experts call for coordinated, wrap‑around services—including Housing First, emergency housing, and culturally responsive support—rather than enforcement‑only approaches.
Background of Caitlin McDonald’s Homelessness Journey
Caitlin McDonald survived less than two years on the streets of Christchurch, a period she documented in hundreds of candid YouTube videos filmed on her phone. Her footage shows her sleeping in a graveyard, an Addington reserve, and on bark chips outside the Town Hall before she ultimately died on a couch in a St Albans flat in May 2025. McDonald’s videos reveal a rapid decline marked by repeated hospital admissions, police welfare checks, suicide attempts, and frequent moves between emergency housing motels, backpackers, and the streets—14 relocations in just 19 weeks. She described her situation not as a lack of effort but as a simple math problem: too few beds for too many people in need.
Family Context and Health Factors
Before homelessness, McDonald had received a life‑saving kidney transplant in 2016, which her mother said gave her “the gift of life.” Despite being placed on a supported living benefit and receiving an A20 priority rating from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)—the highest ranking for social housing eligibility—McDonald never secured stable accommodation. Wendy Proffitt believes that a combination of systemic failures, including tightened emergency‑housing eligibility criteria introduced in 2024, ultimately nullified the health gains from the transplant and led to her daughter’s premature death at age 47, roughly half the age of both grandmothers.
Mother’s Testimony to the Justice Committee
On Tuesday, Wendy Proffitt appeared before Parliament’s justice committee to warn that the proposed move‑on orders would have exacerbated her daughter’s peril. In a written submission she stated, “My daughter would have died a quicker and nastier death homeless had the ‘move‑on orders’ been in place then. She was already ‘moved on’ to more dangerous places.” Proffitt argued that the legislation reflects an “out‑of‑sight, out‑of‑mind” mindset that contradicts a March Audit Office report urging a coordinated government response to homelessness. She urged legislators to fund police‑led outreach that helps people into homes rather than merely displaces them.
Details of the Summary Offences (Move‑on Orders) Amendment Bill
The bill would grant police the authority to issue 24‑hour move‑on orders to individuals who are rough sleeping, begging, or behaving in a threatening or intimidating way in public places. Supporters say it closes a legislative gap: actions such as lying in a sleeping bag on a bench, doorway, or erecting a makeshift shelter (e.g., a tent or cardboard box) are not presently covered by any offence. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Morning Report that the tool is intended to protect public safety and make city central business districts feel welcoming, while stressing that the bill is only one component of a wider homelessness strategy.
Police Association’s Perspective
Police Association president Steve Watts warned that the legislation risks casting officers in the role of “managing the visible effects” of homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, poverty, and youth vulnerability rather than addressing underlying causes. He emphasized that police already possess powers to handle disorderly conduct, assault, obstruction, property damage, and vandalism. Watts cautioned that repeatedly relocating vulnerable people without adequate resources, services, or legal guidance is unlikely to yield lasting outcomes and could strain police‑community relations.
Government’s Broader Homelessness Initiatives
Goldsmith highlighted that the government is investing an additional $14.5 million over the next year to sustain homelessness outreach and support services in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch, alongside the delivery of 300 new Housing First social homes. Since September 2025, 674 households previously sleeping rough have transitioned to stable housing, and 177 people have entered a transitional‑housing pilot in Auckland and Hamilton. The latest Homelessness Insights Report (March) estimates 4,965 individuals (1,308 Māori) are without shelter nationwide, noting some regions show stabilisation or slight declines, while many councils report increasing numbers over the past six months.
Impact on Women Experiencing Homelessness
The Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness submitted that move‑on orders merely shift people around rather than reduce homelessness, criminalising those living with the consequences of systemic housing failure. The coalition argues the approach prioritises enforcement over care, displacement over housing, and punishment over prevention. Citing research that women comprise about 50 percent of New Zealand’s homeless population—far above the OECD average of 22 percent—Christchurch Methodist Mission executive director Jill Hawkey described the heightened dangers women face: unsafe boarding houses, exploitation, sexual abuse, substance misuse, and isolation. Hawkey recounted finding two women over 70 living on Christchurch streets last year, an “absolutely horrendous” sign of a rental affordability crisis affecting retirees.
Calls for a Holistic, Human‑Rights‑Based Response
Advocates repeatedly stressed that housing is a human right and that effective solutions require listening to those with lived experience. Proffitt, Hawkey, and the coalition urged the government to expand wrap‑around support—including mental health services, addiction treatment, culturally appropriate Māori initiatives, and rapid‑re‑housing programs—rather than relying on punitive measures. They contend that investing in stable homes and coordinated care not only saves lives but also reduces long‑term costs associated with emergency services, policing, and health crises.
Conclusion: Balancing Enforcement with Compassion
The debate over the Summary Offences (Move‑on Orders) Amendment Bill encapsulates a tension between immediate public‑safety concerns and the long‑term imperative to eradicate homelessness through structural solutions. While the government maintains the orders address a narrow behavioural gap and are paired with increased housing funding, critics warn that without robust, accessible support systems, the measure risks pushing vulnerable individuals further into danger, obscuring their needs, and undermining efforts to achieve lasting housing security. The testimony of Wendy Proffitt and the voices of homelessness advocates serve as a stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a person—like Caitlin McDonald—whose life could have been saved with timely, compassionate intervention.