Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children Welcomes Stalking Bill

11 November 2024

Leoni Morris, Ginny Andersen and Marama Davidson at the presentation of the Anti-Stalking petition to parliament.

The aim of the “Aotearoa Free From Stalking” campaign by the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children is an Aotearoa where women, their whānau and all of us can happily and confidently go about our lives, caring for each other, free from the distress of stalking.

So we’re pleased a bill addressing stalking will be introduced – we look forward to finding out more detail and making this bill a tool to help bring about healthier relationships. The majority of stalking happens in intimate relationships and often continues or starts when a relationship breaks-up.

This bill is a message that stalking is unacceptable, that it’s not ok to digitally track your ex or go to your partner’s work if she doesn’t want you there or hang around outside her university lectures if she’s asked you not to.

The government has indicated the bill’s definition of stalking is three specified acts occurring within a 12-month period. “Three events is too many – once the stalker undertakes a second stalking act the victim is going to be frightened or distressed. Our current Harassment Act is triggered after the second incidence and this is widely accepted,” said campaign spokesperson Leonie Morris.

“The 12-month period is also concerning – some stalking can be severe but happen every 18 months, for example.”

The new act needs to focus on the behaviours of the stalker and on the likely impact on a ‘reasonable person’ rather than expecting the victim to detail all the harm they have experienced for conviction.

“We will be encouraging the public, especial victim/survivors of stalking to make submissions on the bill to ensure that it works well for victims, Morris says.

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Contact details: Leonie Morris akcentre@womenz.org.nz

Related media article: The New Stalking Law explained (The Spinoff)