A Māori justice advocate says Aotearoa is in dire need of a stalking law; however, a proposed bill could disproportionately affect Māori men.
This week, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced plans to introduce legislation this year that would make stalking illegal, with a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Awatea Mita from Auckland Women’s Centre says a new stalking law is good but highlights gaps in the legislation, especially around what behaviours qualify as stalking and the timeframe for offences.
She says because Māori are disproportionately affected in family violence sentencing, they oppose the five-year maximum sentence tied to the Three Strikes Bill.
They support rehabilitation as a pathway.
“We do want programs out there for men, for people, or anybody who is thinking about stalking and engaging in stalking. We want to provide them with a pathway back to a healthy and fulfilling life, too,” says Mita.
