Addressing stalking

The Government is introducing a new stalking and harassment offence to ensure the harm that victims experience is recognised and prosecuted effectively.

Stalking is characterised by a perpetrator making unwanted, persistent, and repetitive intrusions into another person’s life, causing a range of serious emotional, psychological, social, and economic harm to that person. Stalking behaviours and scenarios vary but carry significant risk that the behaviour will escalate to physical violence, including homicide.

Existing criminal justice settings do not adequately respond to stalking. Stalking has been considered the same as, or a form of, harassment. As a result, New Zealand law only addresses harassment, with the intention that stalking behaviours are covered by this legislation.

The Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill will make it clear that stalking is illegal and better reflect in the law people’s experience of stalking.

The Bill introduces a new offence into the Crimes Act 1961 to address stalking and harassment as an offence with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The Bill says a person is liable to be prosecuted for the offence of stalking and harassment if they:

  • engage in a pattern of behaviour by doing any specified act to the other person on at least two separate occasions within a two-year period; and
  • engage in the pattern of behaviour knowing it is likely to cause fear or distress to the other person.

The Bill also proposes the offence include using family members, friends, neighbours, businesses, institutions, and organisations to perpetuate the stalking of victims.

The Bill received its second reading on 23 July 2025. The Justice Committee issued its report and recommendations on 10 June 2025. The Government supports all unanimous recommendations including to:

  • Expand the definition of "a pattern of behaviour" from three specified acts in 12 months, to two specified acts in two years, 
  • Add a new specified act of publishing any statement or other material relating to or purporting to relate to a victim, or purporting to originate from the victim (also known as doxing), 
  • Allow Firearms Prohibition Orders(external link) to be made when a person is convicted of the new offence,
  • Allow the destruction of intimate visual recordings made during stalking, and
  • Allow restraining orders and Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015(external link) orders to be made on discharge without conviction. 

A comprehensive list of recommendations can be found in the Committee's full report.(external link) 

The Government anticipates the legislation being passed in 2025, with the law coming in effect six months later to allow for implementation and training.

Further information:

Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill(external link)

Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill(external link) (Justice Committee website)

Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill(external link) (Justice Committee report)

Cabinet papers, briefings, and other key documents

Cabinet paper and minute: Addressing stalking in New Zealand  [PDF, 1.7 MB]

Regulatory Impact Statement: Establishing an Offence of Stalking [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Departmental report: Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill(external link)

Ministerial media releases

10 November 2024: Stalking to become illegal and jailable offence (external link)

12 December 2024: Stalking legislation takes first step(external link)

10 June 2025: Major changes to proposed anti-stalking law(external link)

Getting help from stalking and harassment

If you or anyone else is in immediate danger, do not hesitate to call the Police on 111.

More information on responding to stalking and harassment is available from:

 
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