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Stalking and harassment

Stalking and harassment is a crime. In New Zealand it is defined as a pattern of behaviour where a person carries out any specified act towards another person on at least two separate occasions within two years, knowing their behaviour is likely to cause fear or distress. It is a pattern of obsessive, unwanted, and repeated behaviour that undermines a victim’s sense of safety and wellbeing.

Around half of all stalking starts after the end of a relationship. However, the person could be a partner, a stranger, an acquaintance, an ex, or a family member. Stalking impacts victims of all genders, though is more prevalent towards women, and can impact takatāpui and rainbow communities.

Stalking and harassment can be focused on you alone, or also on your family and whānau. Stalkers may also try to use other people or organisations against you as a third party to their stalking. These acts can be done by any means, such as in-person or online.

If you think you are being stalked, call Police on 105 or complete the online form or report it at your local station. If you are in immediate danger, call 111 (if you need Police but can’t speak for fear of harm, you will be asked to press keys for emergency assistance).

Stalking behaviour

The legislation defines stalking behaviour as specified acts. These are detailed below with examples of what the acts may look like. Note that the new law applies to acts that happen from 26 May 2026.

Specified act description

Examples of what this may look like

Watching, following, loitering near, or obstructing you.

Following or watching you, hanging around near your work or home. Turning up unexpectedly in places you usually go such as your favourite café, gym, school, social group, or a class. Blocking your car in your driveway or a carpark.

Recording or tracking you. 

Monitoring you using phone tracking apps, CCTV, drones, dating apps, or spyware. The same car parked wherever you go and/or tracking you. Alerts on your phone saying an unknown device is moving with you. Hidden cameras.

Contacting or communicating with you. 

Unwanted texts, social media messages, emails, letters, or phone calls. Turning up to your home or workplace uninvited. Leaving you unwanted gifts, notes, or threats.

Damaging, devaluing, moving, entering, or interfering with taonga or property (including pets) you have an interest in, whether they have an interest in them or not.

Slashing your tyres, moving or taking things that belong to you (such as your car, money, phone). Hiding things then moving them back to make you question. Not letting you see your pets, or threatening to harm them. 

Damaging or undermining your reputation, opportunities, or relationships.

Telling lies about you to your friends, family – including children – work colleagues, potential employers, banks, government agencies, the courts. Slandering your business. Posting intimate images or videos of you online.

Publishing any statement or other material relating to, or purporting to relate to you, or purporting to originate from you.

Impersonating you online or in writing, doxxing – putting your private information online – sharing any personal information you do not want shared with others, posting fake images of you online, sending fake emails/texts pretending to be you.  

Acting in any way that would cause fear or distress to a reasonable person.

Intimidating you by making friends with people you know like your boss, landlord, friends, or community groups. Leaving items that would be obvious to you they are from the person, in places they know you frequent, or leaving mementos at gravesites. Making threatening gestures like throat slitting. Threatening your partner, family, or friends. 

 

The new laws

The new stalking and harassment laws clearly define what behaviour is unacceptable and give Police the power to serve (give) a stalking and harassment notice to the person stalking you if at least one specified act has occurred. The notice tells the person their behaviour towards you is unacceptable and explains that any future specified acts may result in an offence and the person being charged. Police will tell you before the notice is served so we can create a safety plan with you to ensure you’re safe and have actions you can take.

If there are two or more instances of specified acts within two years, the person could be charged with the offence straight away. A notice is not required first.

As well as the new stalking and harassment laws, there may also be other laws and orders that apply in your circumstances. For example, you may be able to apply for an order for the person stalking you to take down a video of you that has been posted online, or apply for a trespass notice, or restraining or protection order. Or Police may be able to issue a Police Safety Order.

You can find more information on the new laws at New laws set to better protect people from stalking and harassment | New Zealand Ministry of Justice. This includes factsheets, information for organisations, and information for victims going through the court process.

What to do and how Police can help

For more information on what to do if you’re being stalked, keeping safe, and how Police can help you, this factsheet combines the information on this page:

Note: this factsheet is currently being translated into more languages and Easy Read.

Reporting stalking behaviour

Stalking behaviour may escalate gradually, or it may escalate quickly. The sooner you contact Police, the sooner we can step in to help prevent the behaviour from continuing or escalating.

When the behaviour comes from someone you know well, it can be hard to recognise at first, taking time to realise something isn’t right. You or the people around you may have minimised what is happening. Or you may not have wanted to cause a fuss, or felt embarrassed, or worried about what might happen if you take action. These are completely normal, reasonable, and understandable reactions. You are not alone. You deserve a life free from fear and distress.

Reach out early. Don’t wait for the situation to escalate or wear you down. It’s not your fault and it’s not fair. If you feel unsafe, afraid, or trapped, we are here to help you.

If you think you are being stalked, call Police on 105 or complete the online form or report it at your local station. If you are in immediate danger, call 111 (if you need Police but can’t speak for fear of harm, you will be asked to press keys for emergency assistance).

Keeping yourself safe

If it’s a stranger or acquaintance it is best not to respond no matter how many messages they send. One response after 100 text messages may make the stalker think it takes 100 attempts to get a response. If they keep turning up in places you frequent, consider changing your routines for a while. If you run into the stalker, or they are your partner or family member and you can’t avoid contact, responding in a calm and neutral way can help keep you safe. Call Police as soon as you can so we can work out a safety plan with you, discuss your legal options, and make the behaviour stop.

Useful evidence for Police

If it is safe to collect, the following things are examples of what would be useful evidence of the specified acts:

  • A diary that records incidents of loitering, tracking, or property damage etc.
  • All texts, emails, and social media messages sent to you from the stalker.
  • Screenshots and recordings – save files where possible as backups.
  • Any gifts, notes, letters, or objects left for you from the stalker.
  • Any security camera footage or photographs of the stalker loitering by your house or place of work, etc.

If the stalker is someone close to you, it’s important to keep physical evidence in a safe place which is unknown to, and inaccessible by, the stalker. Not all evidence may be safe to keep, so if it is safe to photograph it, do so and inform police straight away so you can hand it over quickly.

Support Services

We encourage you to talk to people you trust, such as your whānau, friends, and employers to ensure you have a strong personal support network. There are also providers who can support you, these are:

Questions and answers

How long is a notice active/in force for?

 

A notice is active for 24 months/2 years from the date of the first specified act – which can’t be before 26 May 2026.

 

What does it mean that police have to inform the victim before issuing a notice?

 

Police are required to inform the victim before serving the notice. As part of that we will discuss safety with them and work to develop a plan for both when the notice is served and for afterwards. Our focus is first and foremost on the victim’s safety and ensuring they feel supported. We want victims to have a plan in place that gives them reassurance and the knowledge they can contact Police at any time if they feel unsafe.

 

What happens if someone doesn’t comply with a notice?

 

If a person has a notice served on them and they breach it by committing any further specified act/s towards the victim listed on the notice within the two-year time frame, they could be charged with an offence. Police are able to use discretion based on individual circumstances.

 

Can the notice have conditions e.g. not to go to the victims address or will a trespass notice or similar need to be served as well?

 

A stalking and harassment notice does not contain tailored conditions (such as a bail notice or protection order). A stalking and harassment notice can be served alongside other notices and/or orders if necessary under the circumstances at the same time, such as a trespass notice, Police Safety Order etc. The notice is designed to prevent a wide range of behaviour that causes, or are likely to cause, fear or distress to person B.

 

Must a notice be issued before the offence?

 

No.

 

What is the consequence of the offence?

 

A person who commits a stalking and harassment offence is liable for up to five years imprisonment.

 

Can specified acts be knowingly carried out by a group of people against an individual?

 

Yes, and every individual can be issued a notice or charged with the stalking and harassment offence (if all of the elements/requirements of the offence are met).

 

Can a person be charged if they used a third party to carry out specified acts against an individual?

 

Yes, Section 216P(b)(ii) allows that if it can be proven an individual was using another person, institution, or organisation without their knowledge to commit a specified act. [Note the other person, institution, or organisation has not committed an offence).

 

Can a notice cover a victim and their dependent children?

 

No. A separate notice will be needed for each victim, but the notices would cover the same specified acts.