"Just this week our prime minister announced that the government is giving police officers new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres. Breaching an order risks a fine of up to NZ$2,000 or three-month jail term. Instead of investing in infrastructure to support the most vulnerable members of our community, authorities want to sweep the problem under the rug and punish them for it."
"Like Splore, NZ has the hungover malaise of a party being cancelled and the lights going out. I, too, have informally exited the country. The daily deep humiliation of our current NZ government proved too much."
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's internationally renowned former prime minister, is moving to Sydney with her husband Clarke Gayford. This relocation symbolizes growing disillusionment among New Zealanders with their country's current trajectory. The author, who also left New Zealand, cites the government's recent policy criminalizing homelessness and rough sleeping as emblematic of deeper failures. Rather than addressing systemic issues affecting vulnerable populations, authorities prioritize enforcement through fines and imprisonment. This represents a departure from progressive values. The exodus of prominent figures like Ardern reflects broader frustration with New Zealand's direction, with many Kiwis seeking opportunities in Australia despite the emotional difficulty of leaving their homeland.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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