Articles tagged with Stalking

New Workplace Guide Empowers Employers to Support Employees Facing Stalking

4 weeks ago | 283 views

Minister for Women Nicola Grigg has launched a new guide to help workplaces support employees experiencing stalking, emphasizing the serious impact stalking has on victims' health and safety. Developed by the Ministry for Women in collaboration with Shine and Human Resources New Zealand, the guide offers practical steps for employers to recognize stalking behaviors, respond to disclosures, manage risks, and provide specialist support. This initiative complements recent legal changes criminalizing stalking, aiming to create safer workplace environments and hold perpetrators accountable.

Tags: Nicola Grigg stalking workplaces Ministry for Women Shine Human Resources New Zealand family violence harassment Crimes Act victims

New Zealand Criminalizes Stalking with Up to 5 Years Prison Starting Tonight

2 months ago | 572 views

Starting tonight, stalking becomes a criminal offense in New Zealand, punishable by up to five years in prison, signaling the government's commitment to addressing this harmful behavior. The new law defines stalking as a pattern of behavior likely to cause fear or distress, including acts such as following, contacting, damaging property, and doxing, with legal mechanisms like police notices and sentencing limits in place. This legislation responds to widespread advocacy and aims to protect victims, particularly women, from the serious emotional, psychological, and economic harm caused by stalking and harassment.

Tags: Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister stalking harassment Crimes Legislation Amendment Act New Zealand victims sexual violence Justice Committee doxing

New Zealand Makes Stalking a Criminal Offence with Up to 5 Years Prison

9 months ago | 828 views

New Zealand has passed legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing long-overdue protections against persistent and harmful intrusions. The new law defines stalking as a pattern of behavior likely to cause fear or distress, including acts such as following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with the offence coming into force in May 2026. This legislation prioritizes victim needs, particularly protecting women and children, and includes a police notice system and relevant defenses to effectively combat stalking and harassment.

Tags: Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister New Zealand stalking harassment Crimes Legislation Parliament victims advocacy Police

New Zealand Introduces Stalking Offence with Up to 5 Years Imprisonment

9 months ago | 891 views

Parliament has passed new legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing persistent and harmful behaviours that cause emotional, psychological, and economic harm to victims. The law defines stalking as a pattern of behaviour likely to cause fear or distress, including acts like following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with enforcement beginning in May 2026 after necessary training and public information are prepared. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith emphasized the importance of prioritizing victims, particularly women and children, and acknowledged the advocacy efforts that helped bring the legislation to fruition.

Tags: stalking harassment Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister New Zealand Crimes Legislation Parliament victims advocacy Police