The National Party has committed to introducing legislation to make stalking a criminal offence this year.
An over 20,000 signature-strong petition calling on the Government to urgently make stalking illegal was handed to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith outside Parliament on Wednesday. MPs from the Labour Party and the Greens were also in attendance.
Upon accepting the petition, Goldsmith committed to getting a Bill into the House before the end of the year.
"We need to make changes in this space, and we need to send a very clear, clear message that society does not tolerate stalking," he said.
On Tuesday, Goldsmith said he expects the legislation to be passed before the end of the Parliamentary term.
It comes amidst increasing calls to make stalking a crime.
The Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children chair and AVA (Anti-Violence Action) have fought for four years to make stalking a crime and are delighted with National's commitment on Wednesday.
"We need stalking to be criminalised ASAP. To date, Minister Goldsmith said it will only be within his term but now he's talking about making it this year and we are thrilled about that," Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children chair Leonie Morris said.
Morris said their efforts to criminalise stalking ramped up after the horrific murder of 21-year-old law student Farzana Yaqub in December 2022.
Yaqubi was murdered by her stalker eight weeks after she first reported the matter to the police.
Women's Refuge spokesperson Holly Carrington said on Wednesday that around 30,000 of their clients have experienced stalking.
"Criminalising stalking is a critical step to making our system responsive, so that the tens of thousands of women and others who experience stalking every year in this country for months and years at a time can be safer and can get on with their lives.
"We are really excited to hear about the cross-party commitment to having a law passed."
Labour MP Ginny Andersen lodged a member's bill earlier this year to make stalking a separate offence, carrying a term of up to five years in prison.
She said Wednesday's commitment was a "big win for women's safety" and if the Coalition Government supported her Bill, it could be passed through the House even quicker.
"It's ready to go right now. We've got a written bill that's in the ballot, all it would take is for the support of those parties to receive a first reading," Andersen said.
Overseas countries such as Australia and the UK already have similar provisions and her Bill takes the "best parts" of those bills and fits it in with New Zealand legislation.
"If we can change this law and make New Zealand safer that's the greatest outcome we can hope for," Andersen said.
