Stalking

In New Zealand, the legal landscape for stalking has recently undergone a major transformation. As of late 2025, stalking is now a standalone criminal offence under the Crimes Act 1961, carrying significant penalties.

If you are experiencing stalking as part of family violence (FV), here is exactly what you need to know to stay safe and navigate the NZ system.

1. The New Law: Stalking is a Crime

Previously, stalking was treated as a form of harassment. Now, it is a specific crime with a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.

What qualifies as “Stalking” in NZ?

To be prosecuted, the behavior must follow this pattern:

Two Acts in Two Years: The person must do at least two “specified acts” within a 24-month period.
Intent to Harm: They must know their behavior is likely to cause you fear or distress.
“Specified Acts” include: * Following, watching, or loitering near you.
- Unwanted communication (calls, texts, social media).
- Doxing: Publishing private info or pretending to be you online.
- Interfering with your property or pets.
- Using someone else to contact or monitor you.

2. Immediate Steps for Your Safety

If you feel you are being followed or monitored, your safety is the priority.

The “55” Silent Call

If you are in danger but cannot speak:

Dial 111.
Wait for the operator.
Press 55 on your keypad. This alerts the operator that it is a genuine emergency and you are unable to talk.

Safe Device Usage

Abusers often use spyware or shared accounts to track you.

Do not search for help or “how to leave” on a shared computer or a phone the abuser has access to.
Use a library computer or a trusted friend’s phone for safety planning.
Quick Exit: Most NZ safety websites (like Women’s Refuge) have a large “Quick Exit” button that immediately hides the page.

3. Collecting “Evidence Logs”

Under the new law, the pattern of behavior is everything. Even if an incident feels “small” (like them showing up at your supermarket), it counts if it happens twice.

Don’t Delete: Keep all texts, emails, and call logs.
Screenshots: Take screenshots of social media harassment or “doxing.”
The Diary: Keep a log of every time you see them where they shouldn’t be. Include: Date, Time, Location, and what they did.
Store Safely: Don’t keep this log on your main phone. Send it to a secret email address or keep a physical copy with a trusted friend.

4. Protection Orders & Police Safety Orders (PSO)

Since stalking is now part of the Family Violence Act, you have specific legal protections:

Protection Order: This is a court order that stops the person from contacting you or coming near you. If they break it, the police must arrest them. It is free to apply for.
Police Safety Order (PSO): If the police attend an incident, they can issue a PSO on the spot. This forces the person to leave the house and stay away for up to 10 days, giving you time to apply for a Protection Order.
Firearms: A conviction for stalking now automatically results in a 10-year ban on holding a firearms license in NZ.

5. Who Can Help

When you are dealing with stalking or family violence in New Zealand, there are specialized national organizations that cover everything from legal protection to digital security.

Here is the definitive list of national organizations that provide specialized help for stalking and family harm:

1. Emergency & Immediate Safety

Police (111): If you are being followed or feel unsafe now, call 111.
- The Silent Solution: If you cannot speak, press 55 on your mobile when the call connects. This tells the operator you are in danger but can’t talk, and they will dispatch help.
Women’s Refuge (0800 733 843): 24/7 national crisis line. They provide safe houses, but more importantly for stalking, they provide Advocates who can help you apply for Protection Orders and navigate the new stalking laws.

2. Digital & Online Stalking (Cyberstalking)

Netsafe (0508 638 723): They are the experts in “Tech-Facilitated Abuse.” If your abuser is “doxing” you (posting your private info), using “revenge porn,” or using spyware to track you, Netsafe can help you get content removed and provide technical safety advice.
CERT NZ: They deal with cyber security breaches. If you think your banking or primary email accounts have been hacked by a stalker, they provide technical guidance on reclaiming your digital identity.

3. Support & Safety Planning

Shine (0508 744 633): A national family violence helpline available from 9 am to 11 pm. They are excellent at “Safety Planning”—helping you figure out the safest routes to work or how to secure your home.
Victim Support (0800 842 846): Available 24/7. They provide a dedicated support worker who stays with you through the entire police and court process. They can also help you apply for the Victim Financial Assistance grant if you need to move house or change locks because of a stalker.

4. Legal & Human Rights

Community Law Centres of Aotearoa: They provide free legal advice nationwide. They can explain the new 2025/2026 Stalking Laws to you and help you understand if your evidence meets the criminal threshold.
The Family Court: This is where you apply for a Protection Order. If you are in immediate danger, you can apply for a “Without Notice” order, which a judge can grant on the same day.

5. Specialist Support

Shakti (0800 742 584): Specialist 24/7 support for migrant or refugee women (offering services in multiple languages).
Safe to Talk (0800 044 334): If the stalking involves sexual threats or harassment, this is the national sexual harm helpline.

A Note on “Reality Anchoring”

As an RSW, I often tell survivors: Stalking is designed to make you feel crazy. By tracking their behavior and securing your digital world, you are “anchoring” yourself in reality. You are not “overreacting”—you are responding to a criminal pattern.

In New Zealand, the definition of stalking has recently become much clearer. As of May 2026, the Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Act is officially in effect, making stalking a standalone criminal offense punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

As a Social Worker, I categorize stalking into four main “impact zones.” If someone is doing two or more of these things to you within a two-year period, it meets the legal threshold for stalking in NZ.

1. Physical Surveillance & Loitering

This is the “old school” stalking that involves being physically present where you are.

Following/Watching: Being followed home from work, or seeing them parked outside your house or gym.
Loitering: Hanging around the supermarket, your child’s school, or your favorite park “coincidentally.”
Obstruction: Physically blocking your path or stopping you from leaving a building.
Property Interference: Entering your property without permission, or “messing” with things (moving outdoor furniture, leaving a gate open) just to let you know they were there.

2. The Digital Shadow (Cyberstalking)

In 2026, most stalking happens through a screen. This is often the most invasive form.

Tracking Devices: Hiding an Apple AirTag in your car, bag, or even your child’s toy.
Spyware: Installing “Stalkerware” on your phone to read your texts, see your photos, and listen to your calls.
Doxing: Publishing your private information (address, phone number) online to encourage others to harass you.
Impersonation: Creating fake social media profiles in your name to ruin your reputation or contact your friends.

3. Intrusive Communication

This is about “flooding” your life so you can never switch off or feel at peace.

The Barrage: Receiving 50+ texts or calls a day, often switching between “I love you” and “I hate you.”
Proxy Stalking: Getting their friends, family, or even your own children to pass on messages or “keep tabs” on you.
Unwanted Gifts: Sending flowers, notes, or “tokens” to your workplace or home after you’ve asked for no contact.
Vexatious Litigation: Using the court system to “stalk” you by filing endless, unnecessary legal applications just to force you to see them in court.

4. Life Sabotage

This zone is about destroying your “anchor points”—your job, your house, and your reputation.

Workplace Harassment: Calling your boss with false allegations or showing up at your office to cause a scene.
Reputation Attacks: Spreading rumors to your neighbors, church, or sports club to isolate you.
Threatening Pets: Harming, “kidnapping,” or threatening your pets (in NZ law, interfering with pets is specifically listed as a stalking act).
Interfering with Taonga: Damaging or hiding items that have deep cultural or personal significance to you.

The “Safe and Sane” Evidence Rule

This Tech Safety Sweep Guide is designed to help you regain control of your personal space. If you suspect you are being tracked, follow these steps methodically.

Remember: Finding a tracker can be an emotional “Reality Anchor,” but removing it can alert the person tracking you. Only disable a tracker when you have a safe place to go or a plan in place.

1. Smartphone “Health Check”

Your phone is the most common way someone can monitor your location and conversations.

Check for Hidden Apps:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll through the list and look for apps you don’t recognize or that have generic names (e.g., “System Update” or “Calculator+” that looks suspicious).
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps. Look for apps with “Device Admin” permissions, which can prevent them from being easily deleted.
Review Location Sharing:
- iPhone: Check the Find My app > People tab. Ensure you aren’t accidentally sharing your location with someone you don’t trust.
- Android: Open Google Maps, tap your profile icon > Location sharing.
Microphone & Camera Privacy:
- Look for the small green or orange dot at the top of your screen. If it appears when you aren’t using an app, someone may be listening or watching.

2. Detecting “AirTags” and Bluetooth Trackers

AirTags are small, cheap, and very common for stalking.

Automatic Alerts: Both iPhone (iOS 14.5+) and Android (6.0+) now send “Unknown Tracker Detected” notifications automatically if a device that doesn’t belong to you is moving with you.
Manual Scanning:
- iPhone: Open the Find My app, tap Items, and look for Items Detected With You.
- Android: Go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Unknown tracker alerts and tap Scan Now. You can also download the Tracker Detect app from the Play Store (developed by Apple).
Sound Search: If you get an alert, you can often tap “Play Sound” to make the tracker beep so you can find it.

3. Physical Vehicle Sweep

If your phone is clean but they always know where you are, check your car.

Exterior Hiding Spots:
- Wheel Wells: Feel behind the plastic lining of all four wheels.
- Under the Bumpers: Use a flashlight or a small mirror to check the metal frame behind the front and rear plastic bumpers.
- Chassis: Look for small magnetic boxes attached to the underside of the car’s frame.
Interior Hiding Spots:
- OBD-II Port: Look under the dashboard on the driver’s side for a small device plugged into a rectangular port.
- Glove Box & Center Console: Check for small devices tucked behind the lining.
- Boot/Trunk: Check the spare tire well and the side panels.

What to do if you find a tracker:

Do Not Destroy It Immediately: It is evidence.
Take a Photo: Photograph the device and where you found it.
Identify It: If it’s an AirTag, hold the top of your phone near it; a website will open showing the serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number.
Screenshot Everything: This is your “Reality Anchor” for the Police.
Disable It: For an AirTag, you can twist the back off and remove the battery.