The National Party is investigating after the house of a Young Nats member was linked to what's been described as misogynistic online trolling against female politicians.
Bryce Beattie,the Young Nat, has also announced he won't contest this year's local government elections. He was standing as a community board candidate for Christchurch's Hornby Ward.
Stuff on Thursday morning reported that Beattie is the account holder of an IP address used to create a fake social media account that has targetted Christchurch Councillor Sara Templeton, Labour MP Megan Woods and other female politicians.
He told 1News on Thursday afternoon that a flatmate of his, who isn't named, has admitted to running the fake account and that person has also resigned his National Party membership. Newshub has contacted Beattie and National about this.
Writing on his Facebook page on Wednesday, before the story's publication, Beattie said he only became aware that the "internet address used for this has been associated with my home" that day.
"I have had numerous different flatmates over the past twelve months, so as the homeowner I accept that this activity must have occurred from my property, however, I reject entirely that I played any part in it or had any knowledge of it."
Following the story's publication, National leader Christopher Luxon confirmed the party was investigating.
"I was appalled to hear of these completely repugnant and cowardly actions. No one should be subject to any form of bullying and I commend those affected for coming forward," he said.
"National does not tolerate any bullying and the party will look into this under our new Code of Conduct."
National Party President Peter Goodfellow and Young Nationals President Stephanie-Anne Ross both called the allegations "appalling".
"We’re glad that those affected have shone a light on this behaviour. No one should be subject to harassment and bullying, either in person or online," they said in a joint statement.
"We will be looking into this matter under our new Code of Conduct. This type of behaviour is not acceptable, and it is important for all parties concerned to see that it is stopped immediately."
Deputy leader Nicola Willis condemned the behaviour while speaking to reporters at Parliament on Thursday.
"Here's a clue: If you have to make up an identity and hide your name and face before you make a comment on social media, don't do it. It is unacceptable. People shouldn't hide behind fake identities to harass and bully others. That's National's view, that's my view, and we take these matters very seriously."
Willis said the party would be looking into who was responsible. A range of consequences would be considered, she said.
She dismissed the suggestion the party hadn't moved on from the era of dirty politics.
"These are the actions of an individual. They are abhorrent actions and I condemn them."
Stuff reports that one of the flatmates who have lived at Beattie's house over the last year is understood to be another Young Nat.
At midday on Thursday, Beattie wrote on Facebook that he had "reflected over the past 24 hours" and decided he wouldn't stand at the local body elections.
"The last thing I want is for this to become a distraction for raising voter turnout in this election, nor prevent the genuine debate for policy. I will continue to contact NetSafe to understand what information they have and provide any assistance I can in relation to this matter."
According to Stuff, Templeton was subject to inappropriate comments and messages from a fake account called Hamish Eggstein. It was apparently set up in December 2020 and taken down after the councillor publicly discussed the abuse last year.
Facebook sent the District Court the IP address associated with the Eggstein profile after Templeton made an application to the court under the Harmful Digital Communications Act. The court reportedly then ordered the telecommunications company linked to the IP address to release details of the account holder.
Labour's Megan Wood was one of those reportedly targeted by Eggstein. She told reporters on Thursday that Templeton's actions were "courageous".
"This was constant, it was targeted and it was toxic," she said.
She said the comments were about "personal appearance [and] about being a woman".
"Basically, misogyny that was practised online. They were not targeting male politicians. This was clearly targeted at women political figures in Christchurch."
Such behaviour cannot be normalised as it stops other women from putting themselves forward for political roles, Wood said.
"I don't think the online harassment and bullying of women is confined to women of any political stripe. I think it is experienced by women right across the political spectrum."
The National Party had no option but to look into it, she said. There would be zero tolerance if Labour members were engaging in this type of behaviour, but she wasn't aware of any cases of that.
