反跟踪法于午夜正式生效
5月25日晚午夜起，跟踪者将面临法律严惩——司法部长 Paul Goldsmith 表示
司法部长 Paul Goldsmith 表示，从今晚午夜起，跟踪行为将正式成为刑事犯罪，最高可判处5年监禁。
他说：“今晚，跟踪行为将成为一项可判处最高5年监禁的刑事罪行。我们的政府发出非常明确的信息——这种隐秘、侵扰性的行为必须停止。如果继续实施，跟踪者将承担后果。”
他指出，多年来新西兰女性不断讲述令人震惊的经历。跟踪行为会造成严重的情绪、心理及经济伤害，但在此之前，施害者往往逃避了严重法律后果。
“这是不对的。跟踪与骚扰行为具有恶意、阴险，甚至可能致命。”
他表示，政府自上任以来一直致力于让犯罪付出真正代价，并将受害者放在司法体系核心位置。
新法核心定义
新的“跟踪与骚扰罪”被定义为：
在2年内实施至少两次特定行为，并且行为人明知其行为很可能令受害者产生恐惧或痛苦。
这些“特定行为”包括：
- 监视、尾随、徘徊或阻挡他人
- 录音、录像或追踪他人
- 与受害者联系或通讯
- 损坏、移动、侵入或干扰对方财物（包括宠物）
- 损害或破坏他人名誉、人际关系或机会
- 发布与个人有关的信息，或冒充他人发布内容（包括“人肉搜索/公开隐私信息”doxing行为）
- 任何对“合理人”而言会造成恐惧或痛苦的行为
其他重要内容
- 警方将引入正式“警告通知制度”（Police notice system）
- 法律设有相关抗辩机制
- 重点覆盖网络跟踪与数字骚扰行为
政府立场
Goldsmith 表示，任何人都可能成为跟踪与骚扰的受害者，但女性比例明显更高，儿童有时甚至被利用参与监视或威胁行为。
他还强调，该法案得到超过600份公众意见支持，许多人勇敢分享了自身经历。
背景意义
该法案《Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Act》正式确立了“持续性行为模式”的犯罪标准，旨在让警方更早介入，并对长期骚扰行为给予更清晰的刑事定性与更严厉处罚。
Stalkers will face the full force of the law when the clock strikes midnight tonight, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“Tonight stalking will become a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison. Our government is sending a very clear message – this insidious behaviour has to stop. If it continues, stalkers will face the consequences.
“For years we’ve heard accounts by Kiwi women that have been shocking. Stalking causes serious emotional, psychological and economic harm, yet until now, stalkers have got away without facing serious legal consequences. This is not right. Stalking and harassment is vicious, sinister and can be deadly.
“From day one our government has been committed to ensuring there are real consequences for crime and that victims are at the heart of the justice system. It underpins all our work to fix the basics in law and order, and build a future where all New Zealanders can feel safe in their communities.
“However, it’s all very well being able to charge somebody with an offence, but it’s pointless if there aren’t real consequences for crime. This is why we’ve already limited the discounts judges can apply at sentencing to 40 per cent, and also given sexual violence victims the power to determine whether their perpetrators receive permanent name suppression.
“The reality is anybody can be a victim of stalking and harassment. However, women are greatly overrepresented as victims, due to the actions by the deluded, the sexist, and the abusive. Even worse, their children can be exploited to surveil victims, pass on threats, or even be threatened themselves.
“This victory would not be possible without the tireless advocacy and help of many people. I want to thank the over 600 submitters to the Justice Committee. Many of them bravely shared their own stories, experiences and the impact stalking and harassment had on their lives.”
The new offence of stalking and harassment is defined as a pattern of behaviour which the offender knew was likely to cause the victim fear or distress.
A pattern of behaviour is defined as two specified acts within a 2-year period. These specified acts are listed in the Act. A Police notice system and relevant defences are also built into the new offence.
The Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Act outlines a range of stalking behaviours:
Watching, following, loitering near or obstructing a person.
Recording or tracking.
Contacting or communicating with the person.
Damaging, devaluing, moving, entering or interfering with taonga or property (including pets) that the person has an interest in.
Damaging or undermining a person’s reputation, opportunities or relationships.
Publishing statements or other material relating to a person or pretending to be from that person – which is intended to cover definitions of ‘doxing’, or ‘collating and publishing private and identifying information about an individual, including posting information on their behalf’.
Acting in any way that would cause fear or distress to a reasonable person.
