Councillors to have 'how-to' guidebook on staying safe from abuse
Photo:
2018 Mark Tantrum
A representative group for local government is launching a 'how-to' guidebook to help elected members stay safe ahead of this year's local elections.
It comes as the government launches a toolkit of its own to help women and their employers navigate online harm.
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) says the
abuse and harassment of elected members
has been increasing, and councils were concerned about a potential chilling effect on people standing in local elections this year.
Chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said the abuse was both online and in-person, and ranged from threats of physical harm to being harassed and intimidated in public.
"We need to keep people in public office safe, so they can focus on doing the best job they can. And we want anyone who is considering standing this October to feel confident about the safety of local democracy."
Freeman-Green said she had spoken to people who were intending to run for council this year who had witnessed the abuse and harassment that some elected members receive, and as a result were thinking twice about putting their hand up.
"They start asking themselves 'do I really want a job where my family might be subjected to abuse and threats from the public?'" she said.
The guide is being launched this morning at an all-of-local government meeting, with mayors as well as council chairs and chief executives gathering in Wellington.
It includes strategies on how elected members and candidates can stay safe online, including risk mitigation such as separating public profiles from private ones, and using a new phone number or PO Box for their campaigns.
A section on staying safe in public contains scenarios on what to do in a tense public meeting or when approached in a public place by an upset member of the public or Sovereign Citizen (as well as the options they can take if behaviour approaches the legal definition of harassment), and how to mitigate risks at home.
Minister for Women Nicola Grigg
Photo:
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Minister for Women Nicola Grigg planned to announce a toolkit the government was launching to help women and their employers address online harm.
However, she was unable to attend in person due to severe weather and flight cancellations, and instead addressed the meeting via teleconferencing.
The toolkit, developed by the Ministry for Women in collaboration with Netsafe, includes interactive educational modules, practical resources, and real-world case studies from women in leadership and public-facing roles.
Grigg said research showed the alarming impact
abuse and harassment on social media was having on women
, particularly those in the public eye, including self-censoring, avoiding digital platforms, and having less contact with the public.
"The prevalence of online harm has become a serious issue, disproportionately impacting women who are in the public eye. The growing phenomenon of online abuse has the very real potential to deter women from stepping into leadership roles and engaging in public and political life," she said.
Freeman-Greene said LGNZ was "delighted" the government had released the toolkit.
"It's vital that women leaders - who are in the spotlight across a range of sectors - have tools to combat abuse and harassment. It's clear from our survey data that women are particularly at risk of gendered abuse," she said.
While most of the day's discussion topics will be around infrastructure funding, Freeman-Greene said it was important in an election year for candidates and elected members to also feel safe from harm.
Building and construction minister Chris Penk and local government minister Simon Watts are also expected to speak about their portfolios in the afternoon.
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