This open letter was published on 20 May 2024. If you wish to support this ongoing campaign, please sign our #SafetyNotStalking ActionStation petition. Kia ora! Thank you for your interest!
#SafetyNotStalking Open Letter to the Minister of Justice
Open Letter to the Minister of Justice
An Open Letter to the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Paul Goldsmith:
Dear Minister Goldsmith
We all want Aotearoa New Zealand to be a country where everyone can safely contribute to our communities and our collective well-being. We are all better off when everyone can participate in society.
Right now, many New Zealanders, mostly women, do not have the empowerment that comes from knowing they are safe to care for their children, create loving relationships, live where they choose, or even to engage in public-facing work. This is because they are targeted by stalkers: people making unwanted, repetitive, and persistent intrusions into their lives.
Stalkers attempt to control their victims through surveillance, threats, and intimidation. It can be terrifying. Just the possibility of stalking can silence women. Stalking takes a heavy toll on victims’ lives, and it can escalate to severe physical violence and murder.
Aotearoa New Zealand is currently experiencing a dramatic increase in the amount of online stalking and harassment. This dangerous, harmful behaviour is illegal in Australia, the United States, the UK, and Europe, but not in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our current laws are piecemeal and inadequate. They often make it impossible for victims/survivors to be safe.
This has to change for the peace of mind of all New Zealanders. Making stalking illegal will enable coordinated responses so that victims receive prompt and effective support and protection. It would give the police the tools they need to keep people safe.
We are pleased that before the election, the National Party publicly supported making stalking illegal. You criticised the previous government for having“dragged its feet in this area.” Yet, despite our requests for urgency, you have told us you have no plans to update the current dangerous and inadequate legislation this year, and we are concerned no anti-stalking bill will be passed within this term.
Minister Goldsmith, we call on you to honour National’s pre-election statements and immediately make stalking a crime by adding it to the Crimes Act, to prevent more innocent people from living in fear and being harmed and murdered.
Ngā mihi nui,
Signed by:
The Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children:
Auckland Women’s Centre – Te Wāhi Wāhine o Tāmaki Makaurau
Eastern Women’s Refuge
HELP Support for Sexual Abuse Survivors
Hestia Women’s Refuge
Inner City Women’s Group
Kia Haumaru – Personal Safety Education
Mt Albert Psychological Services Ltd
National Council of Women, Auckland branch
North Shore Women’s Centre
NZ Human Rights Centre
Pacific Women’s Watch, New Zealand
Rape Prevention Education – Whakatu Mauri
Respect (formerly Living Without Violence), North Shore
Rodney Women’s Centre
Shakti Community Council NZ
SHINE Safer Homes in NZ Everyday
The Backbone Collective
Women’s Health Action Trust
Women’s Refuge – Tāmaki Makaurau
YWCA, Auckland
And also:
Ace Lady Network
Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians
ARCS Manawatu Abuse and Rape Crisis Support
Auckland Women’s Health Council
Auckland Women’s Lawyers Association
AVA – Anti-Violence Action
Company of Women
Council for Anglican Women’s Studies
E Tipu E Rea – support for teen parents
E Tū Union
Federation of Business and Professional Women New Zealand
Gabriela Aotearoa
Gender Justice Collective
Graduate Women New Zealand
Heretaunga Women’s Centre
Iranian Women in NMZ
Kapiti Women’s Centre
Lower Hutt Women’s Centre
Migrant Action Trust
National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges l Ngā Whare Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa
National Council of Women
NZ Prostitutes Collective
PACIFICA
Peace Movement Aotearoa
Project Gender
Rural Women New Zealand
Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust
She is Not Your Rehab
Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (SAANZ)
Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support
Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga / National Network of Family Violence Services
The Period Place
Women About Sound
Michèle A’Court, ONZM, comedian and writer
Josephine Bartley, Auckland Councillor
Professor Virginia Braun (Psychology), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Professor Francis Collins (Sociology, Criminology, Gender Studies), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Professor Jennifer Curtin (Politics and Public Policy), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Angela Dalton, Auckland Councillor
Chris Darby, Auckland Councillor
Associate Professor Vivienne Elizabeth (Sociology), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Julie Fairey, Auckland Councillor
Alf Filipaina, Auckland Councillor
Dr Gay Marie Francisco, University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Professor Nicola Gavey, (Psychology), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Dr Debbie Hager (Population Health), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Shane Henderson, Auckland Councillor
Huhana Hickey, MNZM, Disability Advocate
Richard Hills, Auckland Councillor
Honorary Associate Professor Louise Humpage (Sociology), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Professor Priya Kurian (Political Science and Public Policy), University of Waikato / Te Whare Wananga o Waikato
Dr Jade Le Grice (Psychology), Associate Dean Māori, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Associate Professor Carrie Leonetti (Law), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Kerrin Leoni, Auckland Councillor
Professor Steve Matthewman (Sociology), University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Ruth Money MNZM, Independent Victim Advocate
Professor Mandy Morgan (Psychology), Massey University / Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa
Dr Cassandra Mudgway, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha / University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Khylee Quince, Te Manukura Ture/Dean, Te Kura Ture/School of Law, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau / AUT
Ara Marie Leal Rodriguez (Sociology), University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau
Dr Alison Towns, Director, Mt Albert Psychological Services Ltd.
Emily Writes, writer and speaker, and the best-selling author of the books Rants in the Dark and Is it Bedtime Yet?