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Download AudioThe Government has been urged to make stalking a crime.
An open letter from the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, consisting of over 80 groups and individuals in business, politics, law, entertainment, media and academia, says quick action is needed to prevent fear, harm and in the worst cases, murder.
Signatories include E Tipu E Rea Whānau, a kaupapa Maori group which supports teen parents, and wahine Maori leaders AUT law school dean Khylee Quince and disability advocate Huhana Hickey.
Coalition chair Leonie Morris from the Auckland Women’s Centre says because stalking is not illegal in New Zealand no statistics are kept, but figures from the United States and Australia indicate 1 in 6 women and 1 in 10 men could be stalked in their lives.
“It’s likely that wahine Maori are targeted more than pakeha women as often stalkers target groups that are already discriminated against so wahine Maori, young women, disabled women, migrant women are all more likely to be victims of stalkers,” she says.
Leonie Morris says Nationals’ election policy included giving police power to act against stalkers, but Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has indicated it’s not a priority.
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