NZ News

Research finds rape threats against female MPs common

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2025

A Labour MP says a new report about harassment of female parliamentarians is not a big surprise.

The research, conducted by the University of Otago’s Department of Psychological Medicine and based on interviews with 11 women from both sides of the aisle, has accounts of assaults with weapons, threats of rape and death threats.

MP Ingrid Leary told Morning Report harassment is seen across the political spectrum.

“It’s not surprising and it’s very concerning,” she said. “Given this is a longitudinal study, the trajectory is that it’s getting from bad to worse.

“When you read some of the accounts of what some of the women have endured or certainly hear them, there is absolutely no question in my mind that this is hate speech, violent language, threatening language, we have women who have been threatened with rape and so on.

“This is no question that this is not about free speech – this is about hate speech, absolutely, in many cases.”

The report covered both online and personal abuse.

“What is clear from the findings is the disinhibiting effect that social media abuse gives those who do it, which means people have kind of normalised behaviour, and women – and all MPs, but particularly women – are more likely to experience that person to person,” Leary said.

“Also it’s more likely to be personalised, so about women’s appearance or things not to do with political issues and the language tends to be more violent.”

Leary said she had experienced abuse.

“Certainly I’ve had a bomb threat at my office and I’ve had my office graffitied, and staff regularly actually suffer abuse.”

“One of the findings in that report is that families and staff members tend to be targeted more frequently and are often overlooked.”

The report came only a few days after New Zealand First MP Shane Jones and his wife were reportedly involved in an airport altercation with a man.

“It’s particularly happening to women that are visible ethnically different from Pākeha women, and for them it seems to be sustained, deliberate, ongoing and almost designed to try to get them to lose their confidence.”

Leary said social media did not help.

“We’re in a backdrop of social media algorithms that reward polarising views and histrionic kind of language, and even hate speech.

“We’re seeing imported politics come in, and in my personal view, I think some of this is attached to far-right ideology and imported populist kind of agendas that have come in from the States that we are seeing play out in New Zealand, which is worrying.”

The paper found misogyny and racism were pervasive in the harassment of female politicians, their staff and their families.

It came as the justice minister was getting advice on law changes to better protect publicly elected officials, particularly at their homes.

One MP said she received “deeply, deeply vile” abuse, including a threat to cut her throat, while another told researchers “[threats of] rape just get thrown about all the time”.

Two MPs said they had been assaulted with weapons, while another reported having a fake gun – that she believed was real – aimed at her at close range.

The research, led by psychiatry registrars Dr Rhiannon Watson and Dr Lucy Hammans, builds on a previous survey of both male and female parliamentarians published last year.

Watson said threats of physical and sexual violence had become commonplace for female parliamentarians, with MPs reporting being threatened in person, over the phone, online on social media and in emails.

Hammans said misogyny was ubiquitous in the harassment of female MPs, which also targeted their staff, and their families, and was further complicated by racism for some.

Levels of harassment rose when women attained more senior roles, and when they were in government rather than opposition roles, the research found.

One MP commented: “There is no doubt in my mind that it is absolutely aimed at impeding us from doing our jobs and from being MPs … it is absolutely aimed at driving us out.”

The research paper said many MPs reported comments on their appearance, challenges to their competence because they were female, and being called ‘slut’ and ‘bitch’.

Among the long-serving MPs, two said the abuse had contributed to their decision to retire, while others thought they would have reconsidered taking up the role if they had known then what they knew now.

The senior author on the research paper, Professor Susanna Every-Palmer, said the psychosocial impact of harassment on female parliamentarians was considerable and at worst associated with flashbacks and thoughts of suicide.

Gender-based harassment was having a profound impact on female parliamentarians, challenging representation in politics and the fabric of democracy, she said.

Every-Palmer said a “multi-faceted response” was needed that included establishing a central body to monitor and coordinate the response to abuse, as well as developing guidelines on abuse for police and parliamentarians.

She also recommended New Zealand legislation on online violence, the Harmful Digital Communications Act, needed to be updated, as it specified individual comments must cause serious emotional distress and required the police to demonstrate the abuser has the intent to cause harm.

New legislation requiring social media providers to address and prevent online abuse, backed up by a robust enforcement regime, was also needed, she said.

Source: RNZ

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Opportunities to mitigate multi-million-dollar RNZ budget blowout likely missed – experts

Published

5 days ago

November 10, 2026

News Staff

Multiple opportunities to identify and mitigate a multi-million-dollar budget blowout at RNZ appear have been missed, according to the former executive director at Audit New Zealand.

The public broadcaster on Monday revealed a near $12 million shock financial loss after a litany of financial blunders, which will now lead to sweeping job cuts.

The $11.8m loss is more than 25 times the $470,000 RNZ had expected to lose over the year to June.

CEO Paul Thompson took responsibility for the result, and said internal reports gave an inaccurate picture of the finances, meaning the scale of the loss only became clear in October.

RNZ’s former chief financial officer Hilary Parker resigned unexpectedly in early October.

The board said it would commission an independent review into what went wrong.

Independent contractor Stephen Walker, who left the Audit Office earlier this year, said the size of the loss was surprising, as was the length of time it took to identify it – months after the financial year ended.

“Probably more of a concern is that they had seemingly been unaware that they were running up a significant deficit until they were in the preparation stage of their annual report in October.”

Walker said public entities typically produced monthly financial reports.

An interim audit also took place before the end of the financial year, he said, but if the organisation hadn’t identified significant losses at that stage, the auditor could also be in the dark.

“It seems that there’s a real weakness in forecasting and budgeting that’s occurred here and that the monthly accounts, when they’re produced, either haven’t identified these significant variances against budget or the magnitude of them really hasn’t come to light until right towards the end of the financial year,” Walker said.

“And really at that point, there’s no opportunity for the chief executive, the leadership team to take, and the board to take, any corrective action because the year has effectively been completed.”

Walker said the “significant miss” was difficult to account for given it was more than 10 percent of RNZ’s total funding.

He said based on RNZ’s annual report, financial complexity didn’t appear to be a factor.

“This $11.8m loss isn’t made up of one particular item … it seems to have been contributed to by a number of separate expense lines running over budget. So I don’t think it’s necessarily to do with complexity.”

Among the errors, RNZ wrongly counted $2m from land sales as income in its budget. Staff costs also came in $3.2m over budget, including $1.4m in redundancy payments.

Professor at Auckland University’s business school Norman Wong said based on media reports the issues identified were “significant and troubling”.

“But recognising the sale of land as income in their budget is a basic error that one would have expected to have been caught and corrected well before it got to this point.”

With funding reductions at RNZ over the past two years, Walker expected greater scrutiny of financial results.

“Virtually every public entity has had their annual budget reduced. And so you would expect … the leadership team on a monthly basis and board – I’m not sure how frequently the board will consider the information – but you would expect them to be interrogating the results on a regular basis throughout the year,” he said.

Walker said initiating an independent review was the correct course of action and that he’d want to understand what information the leadership team and the board were regularly receiving.

He said he’d “love to say” surprising financial results were rare, but conceded they occured on a semi-frequent basis during his time leading the Audit Office.

“The benefit of independent scrutiny by the Audit Office – and the auditors providing that support to the Auditor General – [is] that the reporting is fairly presented at the end of the year, whether it’s good, bad or ugly.”

rnz