Closure of Anzac Parade freedom camping site
Due to health and safety concerns, Whanganui District Council has temporarily closed the Anzac Parade freedom camping site.
Current occupants of the site, many of whom are homeless, have been asked to remove camping gear, vehicles and personal belongings from the site and the adjacent reserve by Wednesday, 18 December 2024.
The council has received multiple complaints about the behaviour of occupants at the site including intimidation, assaults, litter, illicit substance abuse and damage to vegetation – and a large number of people residing at the site have previous criminal offences.
The situation there has become very unsafe, both for the campers on the land themselves and for members of the public wanting to access these areas.
The council will undertake compliance and animal management visits as applicable over the summer period, and security monitoring will continue.
Members of the public witnessing behaviour or events of concern in the area should call the police immediately.
The council acknowledges that closing the site does not change the problem of homelessness – and that for some, because of previous offending or complex personal circumstances, it will be extremely challenging for them to find suitable accommodation.
Referrals to support agencies will continue, as this has made a tangible and positive difference in the lives of many individuals and families in our community. This approach has proved to be successful, with 42 people supported into housing over the last year.
It’s important that the riverside walkway is a family-friendly environment that is safe for our community to enjoy.
Background
The campsite for homeless people was allowed as a temporary measure during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Since then the issue of homelessness has become pressing throughout the country and the Anzac Parade situation has becoming increasingly problematic.
Temporary permits were recently issued to allow people to camp within a designated zone on the reserve area adjacent to the freedom camping site, to enable an annual boat race to take place – these permits have expired. A chain will be reinstated to ensure cars cannot access this site in the future and anyone camping there will be asked to move their belongings.
Legal situation
The council can only work within the law. The council cannot use the Freedom Camping Act or our Freedom Camping Bylaw as regulatory enforcement tools as an approach to solving homelessness. In fact the Act exempts the homeless from any infringement or repercussions under the Freedom Camping Bylaw. The council cannot apply the Freedom Camping Act or the Bylaw to the homeless or those who are unable to find a suitable home to live in.
Under the Reserves Act and our Public Places Bylaw the council can address specific issues, such as unauthorised entry onto reserve land, camping on a reserve, driving on a reserve, litter, trespass, disorderly behaviour, or obstructing a public way among other things.
Addressing homelessness
The council is looking to address long-term housing issues through the establishment of a housing entity. While managing homelessness is not generally viewed as core council business, the council make a genuine and concerted effort, along with multiple support agencies, to find solutions to address the needs of those in our community who are experiencing homelessness
We remain committed to supporting vulnerable people in our community, by partnering with community support agencies such as the Whanganui People’s Centre, who provide wrap-around support and to help people into housing and sustain tenancies.
For each person housed, a comprehensive process is undertaken that is fully advocated by the Whanganui People’s Centre team and aligned with solving or managing the holistic issues and complexities each person is struggling with and preventing them from sustaining a tenancy.
Each application involves the Whanganui People’s Centre navigating with multiple agencies such as MSD, Ministry of Education, Oranga Tamariki, Kainga Ora, Corrections, Probation, Te Whatu Ora, Family Harm Police and many others, as they collate a full picture of what has brought this person to experiencing homelessness. From there they create an action plan with the individuals on how to move forward with a housing focus.