‘Where are they going to go?’ Council shuts down Christchurch church’s homeless encampment

Friday, 3 October 2025

Carlisle Proudfoot-Beaumon, 31, has lived at the encampment at Holy Trinity Avonside church for two months. He intends to move onto nearby Christchurch City Council land following an abatement notice.

People living in vehicles and tents near a Christchurch church have been forced to disband by the council, following numerous complaints.

Some occupants of the Holy Trinity Avonside encampment had already moved on when The Press visited on Friday morning. Others were getting ready to go.

About 10 people called the car park home. However, after several complaints late last year, the Christchurch City Council issued an abatement notice. The compliance date was extended to Friday.

“Literally nobody has asked us: Where are they going to go?” church worker Anna Clare said. “If they hadn’t got a relationship with us, these would be the guys who are back in bus shelters and shop fronts, because that’s where they came from.”

Carlisle Proudfoot-Beaumont, 31, with his friend’s dog Fizz, has lived at the encampment at Holy Trinity Avonside church for two months.

River Rain, recently made redundant by the church, said transitional housing or other locations had been found for the occupants, some of whom arrived with nothing. They would continue to check up on everyone.

“These guys don't stop existing once the cameras stop rolling, or they’re pushed far enough into the red zone it's not staring people in the face,” he said. “That attitude that we can just shove people out of sight is gonna contribute to this problem getting worse, on top of myriad other things.”

Rain and Clare were grateful to some in the council and Duncan Webb’s office, but said the church ultimately did not have the funds or land to build the long-term infrastructure the council said it needed.

Christina Karaitiana has moved to nearby red-zone land after the Christchurch City Council disbanded a homeless encampment at Holy Trinity Avonside church.

The pair said some of the complaints about the encampment appeared to be unsubstantiated but “at the end of the day, we just didn't have the money or the influence”.

A spokesperson said the council was made aware of the unpermitted “camping activity” following several complaints in December and it had worked closely with the property owner since then.

“Discussions had been ongoing in relation to a resource consent application, however the church has chosen not to lodge a consent for the camping activity happening on site.”

Tents have been moved across the road, out of the church grounds.

The council had not told people where to go, but had extended its abatement notice deadline and liaised with social services, including the City Mission, to support the process, the spokesperson said.

“Feedback from the parish is that some occupants have moved on and we will continue to work with the church to achieve compliance,” they said. “There is the need for a citywide strategy to address these issues and community providers are in the early stages of planning this.”

Carlisle Proudfoot-Beaumont said he ended up on the streets due to money trouble a few months after moving to Christchurch. He had previously been homeless for five years or so in the North Island and rated the encampment highly.

“The Holy Trinity Church is… more adequate for such a situation, thanks to the team that is willing to help,” he said.

“It reminds you as an adult you shouldn’t depend too much.”

Christina Karaitiana with the bus she rents in August. She is raising money to purchase it so her home cannot be taken away from her again.

Proudfoot-Beaumont said he planned to respectfully tent on council land near the church.

Christina Karaitiana had already moved to red-zone land but wished the encampment could be permanent. “Having this location, it’s where people can come and have coffees, have breakfasts or do whatever. Orange Sky come on Mondays and Fridays,” she said, referring to the free laundry and shower charity.

Karaitiana was renting a bus, but was trying to raise enough money to buy it so she had a home that could not be taken from her. Her Givealittle page can be found here.