12 June 2025: homeless
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Homeless
Enquiry
Rawiri Waiteti has put out this statement today on the removal of the homeless from Amohia St.
I will include a summary of your statement from yesterday in my follow-up article but I was wondering if the council or Tania Tapsell would like to respond to the criticism, particularly the accusation the council is inhumane and disgraceful.
Can you let me know? I am putting together this story now and will be filing it by 4pm. Sorry, I realise that isn't a lot of time.
Regards
Kelly
Out of Sight, Out of Mana- Rotorua Lakes Council’s Callous Attack on Homeless Whānau
PRESS RELEASE – 12:15pm, Thursday 12 June 2025
Te Pāti Māori Co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi, has slammed the Rotorua Lakes Council’s treatment of homeless whānau as “inhumane and disgraceful,” following the forced police removal of people sleeping outside the Salvation Army on Amohia Street yesterday.
“Our most vulnerable whānau were woken by police, trespassed like criminals, and had their belongings tipped out, broken, or hauled away like trash. Some were arrested, not for committing a crime, but for being distressed at the violent way they were being treated under cold, heartless council by-laws” said Rawiri Waititi.
“This is not a solution, it’s state-sanctioned cruelty. These whānau are being pushed from footpath to footpath, not into homes. In the harsh winter weather, this kind of treatment is not just unacceptable, it is dangerous.”
Waititi says the scenes in Rotorua are a symptom of a wider national failure.
“Let’s be clear: homelessness is not a lifestyle choice. It is a direct result of government neglect, decades of failed housing policy, and a refusal to see the humanity in our most marginalised people.
“This is a failure of leadership. A failure of compassion. A failure to invest in real solutions. These are whānau without homes- not criminals, not pests, not problems to be swept under the rug.”
Waititi also praised the dedicated community organisations who continue to step up where the state has stepped away.
“Groups like Te Arawa Whānau Ora, Love Soup, The Hub Trust, and the Salvation Army continue to do the work this government and council won’t- delivering kai, care, and compassion with little to no resourcing.
“They lead with aroha, not aggression. Their work is a lifeline, not a PR campaign.”
Te Pāti Māori is demanding urgent action from both local and central government:
-Stop using police to hide poverty. End the criminalisation of homelessness. Fund solutions, not surveillance.
-Build real homes, not just headlines. Expand mental health and addiction services. Reverse benefit cuts that push our whānau onto the street.
“This coalition government is directly responsible for the rise in homelessness. They’ve slashed housing, gutted support, and ignored the cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s time they front up, own the crisis they created, and fund the frontline” concluded Waititi.
[ENDS]
Response
The Council organisation politely declined to comment, but we confirmed number of trespasses issued, which was 10.
From Mayor Tania Tapsell:
Rawiri’s comments show just how out of touch he is with Rotorua. We’ve taken action to solve an issue that was causing massive concern for our community. The intimidation, antisocial, and illegal behaviour by some in this group was crossing a line. Yesterday’s action was carried out respectfully and actually went smoothly. Rawiri was briefed by council staff about this so he knows his reference to ‘callous attacks’ and ‘inhumane and disgraceful treatment’ is misleading.
Homelessness is a complex issue and in Rotorua we're all doing our best to keep everyone safe. We’ll continue connecting those experiencing homelessness with the support services available to them. In my view, we need to support in a way that’s enabling the right choices, not encouraging the wrong behaviours.
