Bill Targets Youth Homeless, Critics Warn | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 21, 2026 · 1m

A controversial new bill aims to give police power to remove young people as young as fourteen sleeping rough or begging, sparking fierce backlash from a retired judge and charities. Tony Fitzgerald, who ran a court dedicated to rehabilitating homeless individuals, calls the bill “careless and callous,” arguing it criminalizes homelessness rather than addressing its root causes. He warns that criminalizing youth won’t solve the problem and could push vulnerable people deeper into the justice system. Charities report soaring demand for services, with advocates like Danielle LeGallais…