Nick Mills: Wellington desperately needs a rough sleeper solution - Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Yesterday in Parliament, something very interesting happened and it’s the sort of conversation we’ve been screaming out for here in the capital.

During Question Time, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was pressed on whether the coalition government is working on a new law to prevent people from sleeping in our downtown city centres.

Luxon batted it away in the House —wouldn’t touch it. But later, minister for Auckland Simeon Brown went further, and his comments should make Wellington sit up and listen.

Brown acknowledged the obvious: homelessness is just as serious in Auckland as it is here —maybe worse—but it’s not a competition.

He confirmed the Government is looking at ways to prevent rough sleeping in CBDs and provide accommodation options for those who need it.

That’s the combo we’ve been missing: expectation and support. Not just “move them on,” but “give them somewhere better to go.”

Otherwise, they will just keep coming back.

And let me be very clear— in my view, this is exactly what Wellington needs right now. Not next year. Not after a working group. Now.

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