Stalking will now become a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
The Government has agreed to introduce legislation this year, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said on Monday.
“The public is clearly concerned about stalking, and we are moving quickly to create a new stalking and harassment offence as part of our plan to restore law and order.”
The new law also has some key components that may amount to stalking, including damaging reputation, recording, or tracking and following or loitering, as well as the use of technology.
This comes after much campaigning, including an open letter to Goldsmith and a petition signed by more than 20,000 people earlier this year.
The proposed law would still need some refining during the select committee stage, says victims advocate Ruth Money.
“We’ll need to encourage people at the select committee to really share their lived experience so that the law is as tight as it needs to be.”
Money wants to avoid a situation where the victim must prove they were fearful or being harmed, and that the behaviour of the stalking is enough for a conviction.
Although the legislation will still need some work until it is full-proof Money says that she is thrilled so see it stalking legislation being introduced in NZ.
