Stalking officially became a criminal offence in New Zealand from midnight, with offenders now facing up to five years in prison under new legislation.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the new law sends a strong signal that stalking and harassment will no longer be tolerated, describing the behaviour as “vicious, sinister and potentially deadly.”
The new offence, introduced under the Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Act, targets patterns of behaviour that offenders know are likely to cause victims fear or distress. A pattern of behaviour is defined as two specified acts occurring within a two-year period.
Goldsmith said stalking has long caused serious emotional, psychological and financial harm, particularly to women, while offenders often escaped significant legal consequences under existing laws.
The legislation outlines a broad range of behaviours that may constitute stalking, including following or watching someone, unwanted communication, tracking or recording a person, interfering with property or pets, damaging reputations, and publishing private personal information online in acts commonly known as “doxing.”
The law also covers behaviour intended to intimidate or distress a person, including conduct involving children being used to pass on threats or monitor victims.
Goldsmith said the Government’s wider law-and-order reforms were aimed at ensuring stronger consequences for offenders and better protections for victims. He pointed to recent sentencing reforms limiting judicial sentence discounts and changes allowing sexual violence victims greater control over permanent name suppression decisions.
Goldsmith also acknowledged more than 600 public submissions made during the Justice Committee process, with many submitters sharing personal experiences of stalking and harassment.
Police notice provisions and legal defences are also included within the legislation.
Image credit: Viresh Studio
Hurray, no more private investigators!