Christchurch homeless encampment’s future uncertain as 5pm Friday deadline looms

Thursday, 21 August 2025

The council issued Holy Trinity Church an abatement notice for allowing homeless people to live in its car park, but there is a glimmer of hope.

A church allowing homeless people to live on its grounds without council permission has received orders to shut down the encampment.

About 10 people call the car park at Holy Trinity Avonside home, with the backing of the church. But the Christchurch City Council issued an abatement notice “requiring the property to cease being used, or allowed to be used, as a camp ground” by Friday.

“The compliance date is 5pm on August 22. If the notice is not complied with, further enforcement action will be considered,” the council said.

“Next steps in relation to enforcement action is yet to be determined. This will be explored further if the compliance date is not met. The timeframe of the abatement notice can be extended if there are good reasons to do so. We are mindful of the circumstances of the occupants as well as the issues being experienced by neighbouring properties,” the council said.

Christina Karaitiana in her bus in the car park of the Holy Trinity Avonside church. She says she and her partner would have nowhere to go if they are moved on.

The group, who live in tents, buses and, in one case, a shed, would have nowhere else to go.

On Thursday, a day before the deadline for people to leave, River Rain - a community worker and member of Holy Trinity - thought the notice had been “stayed”, meaning the council would not take action for the time being.

Rain said the group have been working with people at the council and on community boards, as well as a planner working pro-bono, who helped them get the stay of execution.

“That will extend until either we get into compliance or we decide that that’s not a viable route to take, at which point we’ll look at other sites and other places where we can transplant the mahi (work) we’re doing here,” he said.

Rain also said Te Puna Ora, a charitable trust, had come on board and had lots of experience to help them with the situation.

However, a council spokesperson told The Press on Thursday evening no stay had been provided.

“Next steps in relation to enforcement action is yet to be determined. This will be explored further if the compliance date is not met.”

William Kenneally, left, who sleeps in a friend’s van at Holy Trinity Avonside, chats with community worker and church member River Rain in June.

The spokesperson said the timeframe of the abatement notice could be extended if there are “good reasons” to do so.

“We are mindful of the circumstances of the occupants as well as the issues being experienced by neighbouring properties.”

The church has in the past allowed freedom campers to use the car park, but increasingly homeless people have been turning up for help and a place to stay.

Homeless people living in the car park at Holy Trinity Church have been granted a stay by council while the church tries to figure out how it can help them remain there.

But those who now call the car park home say they have few options left.

Christina Karaitiana has rented a bus in the car park for around three months with her partner, who is currently in hospital.

She said if they were made to move out they would be “out on the street again”.

Kenneally, with his dog Mana, says the idea of the council shutting down the site is terrifying.

“I don’t want to be out on the street again because I’m not a very well person … if we do get asked to leave, we’ve got nowhere else to go. I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Karaitiana said the church was going to try to find another section for all of the car park’s residents to be on.

“Fingers crossed that will happen,” she said. “We just need help, that’s all I can say. We need help.”

The car park is home to about 10 people sleeping rough.

Will Kenneally has been living at the car park for about six months and has health issues which prevent him working. He was also attacked about a year ago,leaving him with a fractured skull and broken nose.

The idea of the council closing the site down was terrifying, he said.

The church is trying to work out options to help the people living in its car park.

“If you’re cruel, you only hurt your own soul. But if you’re kind, you will heal many souls. That’s how I see it,” Kenneally told RNZ.

“Thoughtless words can destroy many hearts, but wisely spoken words will heal many hearts, and they’re going out of their way to be cruel.”

One of the concerns raised about high concentrations of homeless people was crime.

But Bryan Gilchrist, a trustee RNZ spoke with, said the work of the church was dispelling that myth.

“My office overlooks the car park next to Beverly Park and for so long it was home to the unhoused and to freedom campers, and I would witness drug deals, altercations, so much littering.

“It was mind-boggling. Even when council posted the ‘no camping’ notice it still occurred, it still transpired.

“Then these folks came into the picture and offered them a space here and … it feels like it has changed the landscape for this area and for the better.”