Four Parties Pledge to End Youth Homelessness Before Nov. 7 Vote

Four political parties signed a formal pledge to tackle youth homelessness on Friday. The agreement was finalized at the first national Youth Homelessness Summit in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. The signatories include Labour, the Green Party, Te Pāti Māori, and the Opportunity Party.

New Zealand First representatives attended the event but did not sign the document immediately. Vicky Hau, the party's representative, was invited to take the commitments back for further internal discussion. The National and ACT parties were invited to the summit but did not send representatives.

More than 100 housing experts, youth advocates, and young people with lived experience attended the gathering. The event was organized to place youth homelessness on the political agenda before the general election. Bianca Johanson, chief executive of Manaaki Rangatahi, stated that the country currently lacks a specific youth strategy or a plan to exit youth homelessness.

Johanson noted that a 16-year-old experiencing homelessness on any given night often does not know where to go for support. She described this gap as a shameful fact. The summit aimed to address this lack of direction and provide a clear path forward for young people in crisis.

Two rangatahi advocates, Anaru Mihaere and Platinum, read the commitments aloud during a political panel. The pledge outlines six specific areas of action for elected officials. It calls for a legally recognized right to safe, stable, and affordable housing for every young person.

The document also demands legislation to prevent government agencies from releasing young people from care, corrections, or health services without a safe place to live. It requires a national strategy developed alongside rangatahi, Māori, and Pacific communities. The parties committed to providing sustained funding for youth housing services and collecting regular national data on the issue.

A separate set of commitments focuses specifically on rangatahi Māori. This includes a statutory duty to assist Māori young people who are homeless or at risk. The pledge supports recognizing Māori-led housing providers as Te Tiriti partners in service design and governance. Oriini Kaipara, the Te Pāti Māori MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, reaffirmed the party's commitment to these goals at the summit.

The parties also agreed to meet annually with Manaaki Rangatahi to report on their progress. The summit provided a forum to debate the controversial move-on orders. These orders, which came into effect on October 25, allow police to order people to move if they are disorderly, begging, or rough sleeping. Disobedience carries a fine or potential jail sentence.

Ricardo Menéndez March of the Green Party criticized the legislation, arguing it treats homelessness as a problem to be managed rather than a condition to be solved. He stated his party would repeal the law. Max Harris of Labour pledged to reverse the orders, calling the legislation unnecessary and appalling. He noted that existing laws already handle genuine threats to public safety.

Vicky Hau defended New Zealand First's support for the move-on orders. She explained that the law applies only to people aged 18 and over. She cited complaints about antisocial behavior in commercial centers as the reason for the measure. Kaipara warned that the orders risk pushing homeless people into the justice system rather than helping them find housing. Romea Tevaga of the Opportunity Party said her party would repeal the orders due to a lack of evidence showing they produce effective outcomes. The election is scheduled for November 7, with advanced voting already under way.