Homeless residents living in Christchurch’s earthquake damaged red zone have urged city councillors to delay plans to remove their community until suitable accommodation can be found.

Moko Reuben and Ngawai Timu addressed the Christchurch City Council on Wednesday, warning that dozens of people could be displaced when a move on order takes effect on February 28, 2027.

The council has ordered people living at an informal camp near the Avon River in Wetlands Grove, Bexley, to leave by that date.

About 60 people are believed to be living at the camp, which includes cars, caravans, buses, tents and makeshift shelters.

Reuben said the red zone had gradually become a place of last resort for people unable to secure private rentals, state housing or community housing.

“This is not a choice of convenience. It is a response to the systemic lack of options,” he said.

“The coming move on order removes even the precarious foothold, with no confirmed alternative housing or support plan in place.”

Reuben said the community included individuals, couples, families, workers and people living with mental health conditions and addictions.

Many had lived there for months or years after facing barriers including low incomes, poor health, missing documentation and discrimination in the housing market, he said.

Reuben said there were no toilets, running water or rubbish services when people first began living at the site.

Portable toilets and rubbish skips had since been provided, while community organisations had helped residents gain access to showers and other support.

He said no dedicated transitional housing, emergency shelter or coordinated support programme had been confirmed for those required to leave.

“The impacts and risks of enforcing this order without prior preparation will lead to severe, predictable harm, escalated homelessness and displacement,” he said.

“It is going to be a big shift. We want to pause because we need to find that suitable place that we can go.”

Reuben said residents were willing to consider other locations.

“If there was a place to go, we are open minded,” he said.

“Loneliness set in”

Timu told councillors her experience in transitional housing had shown why some people felt safer living as part of the red zone community.

She said she moved into a two bedroom transitional property and began buying items for a future home, including a freezer and a large coffee table.

However, she was told she could not store her belongings at the property, despite a spare bedroom and garage being available.

“Loneliness set in,” she said.

Timu said moving away from her community also made it harder to continue rehabilitation for an injury and remain connected with her church and other support networks.

Councillor Nathaniel Herz-Jardine called for the council to act before the deadline approached.

“It is a really serious issue and we need to get ahead of it as a council,” he said.

He asked staff to prepare an options report or establish a working group within the next two months.

Christchurch City Council General Manager Citizens and Community Andrew Rutledge agreed to set up a workshop involving councillors and agencies working in housing and homelessness.

He said the workshop could provide a broader picture of the situation across Christchurch before options were considered.