For so long I couldn’t figure out why I felt so anxious even during periods where he was not contacting me.
I’ve learned that it’s because the pockets of silence are just as scary when you’re waiting for them to return!! We owe victims of stalking early intervention and meaningful, lasting, and constructive resolution.
Proud to announce Wellington’s first special screening of STALKED on May 15 at @penthousecinema in Brooklyn.
A documentary about three women from Aotearoa and their experiences of stalking, including the incredible @zeniaroha , @jazzthornton and @itsnortessa , and how it has led to a transformational change in our country’s legislation filling a gap in our criminal justice system that neglected stalking and the nature of that crime.
Prior to this law, the Police had little tools to pursue stalkers and the law struggled to capture the nature of stalking which heavily relies on (1) patterns/ repetition and (2) context.
I was proud to work alongside these wāhine and advocates to help strengthen the law by bringing the number of specified acts down from 3 to 2, extending the time frame from 12 months to 24 months, and making sure Police work with victims to try and protect them from retaliation. Will be talking more about this and why it matters on the 15th. I hope to see you there 🖤
Ticket link in my bio
In less than a week, STALKED is airing in NZ.
Sharing my article publicly in 2024 was an attempt to dive head-first into releasing the shame I have carried for years. When the editor of my article, Maddie Holden, contacted me last year to be a part of a documentary series (of which she is the Story Producer) I knew that together we had more to add to the conversation.
My hope for this series is to add constructively to the discourse around stalking and harassment. I know that someone watching this series will be going through an experience adjacent to ours. I hope that you feel empowered to advocate for yourself and that you don’t feel alone.
I also hope that this series sparks consideration and conversation on how we can best support all individuals affected by stalking - victims and survivors, family and friends, and perpetrators themselves. Stalking is detrimental to all involved and, through fair and proper application of the new law, it is my hope that we see significant change.
The team who created this series are nothing short of incredible. I am honoured to share my story alongside Jazz and Nortessa.
Here’s some BTS from filming last August. A surreal and life changing trip home. ❤️🩹
#fullvideo my speech on the anti-stalking laws in Aotearoa. Trigger warning: this discusses graphic violence of a sexual nature. I know firsthand, as a young woman in Parliament, that grape and death threats and stalking literally follows you everywhere you go.
Please listen to the full kōrero, it is not my own story, it is the story of every woman who has ever experienced this level of violence.
I want to acknowledge @zeniaroha , @aucklandwomenscentre and @tikizmum for doing the hard mahi to get this in front of Parliament, and maybe the fact that it took so long is a reflection of where we are at when it comes to protecting and believing women.
Tomorrow night on Zoom - join Zeni, Awatea and I for a kōrero about the anti-stalking law that is coming through Parliament. Why we need it, what it will and wont cover, and how we can make recommendations to strengthen it.
Submissions are open till Thursday, this is a government bill which means we have an opportunity to make sure it does all that it can to protect people from stalking behaviour.
We are sooo lucky to have @zeniaroha speak to her experience and her recommendations for how our systems must change, and also Awatea Mita who has been leading the Aotearoa Free From Stalking campaign.
Note: to get the link to this webinar you need to RSVP using the link in my bio. We will email you the webinar link tomorrow ❤️🔥
