‘Relief’ after homeless encampment given more time to find solution

Friday, 22 August 2025

Homeless people camped on grounds at Holy Trinity Church have been given more time to come up with a solution.

Homeless people living in the car park of a Christchurch church say they are relieved after the deadline of a council abatement notice was extended.

About 10 people call the car park of the 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, as a camp ground” by Friday 5pm.

However, on Friday evening, the Christchurch City Council said the abatement period would extend.

Around 10 people call the car park there home.

“Council staff are continuing to work closely with all parties involved in the situation at Holy Trinity Church and are working through the appropriate next steps,” a council spokesperson said.

“A decision regarding compliance with the abatement notice will not be made until later next week.“

The church has in the past allowed freedom campers to use the car park, but increasingly people have been turning up for help and a place to stay, many of whom said they would have nowhere to go if they were told to leave.

“We’re continuing to work with council towards compliance, while we’re doing that there is going to be no enforcement,” said community worker and church member River Rain.

River Rain says the residents of the car park and the church felt “relief”.

“This is home at the moment and I think that’s a big thing that people don’t get. This isn’t camping…these are people who have nowhere else to go.”

Rain said they would be working together with the councils compliance team and community organisations to figure out a solution - such as becoming compliant.

The council’s head of regulatory compliance Tracey Weston, said the council became aware of the encampment through complaints. Four complaints had been made between January 14 and June 20.

Christina Karaitiana says if she were made to leave, she and her partner would have nowhere to go.

“Concerns were raised about the absence of sanitary facilities, drug use and discarded needles, no visible supervision or security, and the site becoming a hotspot for unlawful and unsafe activity.”

On Friday, The Press spoke to a woman who had lived across the road from the site for 45 years. She said the space used to be tennis courts that her children played on.

The 84-year-old, who didn’t want her name used, said the council should leave them be.

“It’s free ground, it’s dry… as long as they keep it tidy and don’t have parties. Just leave them alone.”

Several more neighbours in the area The Press spoke to were unaware there were people living in the car park.

When The Press talked with Christina Karaitiana on Thursday, she had her “fingers crossed,” the deadline wouldn’t be enforced.

A council spokesperson says a decision regarding compliance with the abatement notice will not be made until later next week.

She rented a bus in the car park for about three months with her partner, who is currently in hospital.

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

“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.

“We just need help, that’s all I can say. We need help.”