Te Kete o Karaitiana Taiuru (Blog)

In New Zealand European men aged between 20 and 39 years old are most likely to commit harmful digital acts and be charged, according to the annual statistics from the Ministry of Justice.

The most likely victims of harmful digital communications are young Māori females, then Pacific and Asian females (NetSafe).

Yet, Māori are more likely to be convicted after being charged for a harmful digital communication.

• Māori 77%
• European 63%
• Asian 48%
• Pacific 31%

What is the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015

A law to help people dealing with any harmful digital communications (like text, emails or social media content) which can include racist, sexist and religiously intolerant comments – plus those about disabilities or sexual orientation (NetSafe). It aims to deter, prevent and lessen harmful digital communications including cyber bullying, harassment and revenge porn posted online. Offences under this act include causing harm by posting digital communications.

Examples of harmful digital communication include sending or publishing threatening or offensive material, spreading damaging rumours and sending or publishing sensitive personal information (embarrassing photos and videos).

The 10 communication principles state a digital communication should not:

1. disclose sensitive personal facts about an individual
2. be threatening, intimidating, or menacing
3. be grossly offensive to a reasonable person in the position of the affected individual
4. be indecent or obscene
5. be used to harass an individual
6. make a false allegation
7. contain a matter that is published in breach of confidence
8. incite or encourage anyone to send a message to an individual for the purpose of causing harm to the individual
9. incite or encourage an individual to commit suicide
10. denigrate an individual by reason of colour, race, ethnic or national origins, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

 

Charges by Court District

Below is a break down of charges for harmful digital communication by districts that are allocated by the Ministry of Justice for the courts to hear charges and to make sentences.

The safest places in New Zealand in regards to harmful digital communications are: Te Kūiti, Dannevirke, Ruatōria, Waipukurau, Wairoa, Thames, Dargaville, Taumarunui and Chatham Islands

The most dangerous 5 areas are Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, Nelson and Invercargill.

 

Canterbury 74
Ashburton 2
Christchurch 72

Otago 58
Dunedin 35
Oamaru 5
Timaru 18

Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast 58
Blenheim 16
Greymouth 17
Kaikōura 0
Nelson 34
Westport 1

Waikato 52
Hamilton 46
Huntly 1
Morrinsville 1
Te Awamutu 4
Te Kūiti 0

Southland 46
Alexandra 3
Gore 4
Invercargill 32
Queenstown 7

Manawatū/Wairarapa 40
Dannevirke 0
Levin 6
Masterton 7
Palmerston North 27

Wellington 33

Waitematā 29
North Shore 14
Waitākere 15

East Coast 29
Gisborne 13
Hastings 12
Napier 4
Ruatōria 0
Waipukurau 0
Wairoa 0

South Auckland 27
Manukau 17
Papakura 4
Pukekohe 6

Auckland 24

Taranaki/Whanganui 23
Hāwera 3
Marton 1
New Plymouth 9
Taihape 1
Whanganui 9

Northern Wellington 22
Hutt Valley 4
Porirua 18

Bay of Plenty 21
Ōpōtiki 1
Tauranga 14
Thames 0
Waihī 4
Whakatāne 2

Taitokerau 12
Dargaville 0
Kaikohe 2
Kaitāia 2
Whāngārei 8

Waiariki 11
Rotorua 5
Taumarunui 0
Taupō 3
Tokoroa 3

Chatham Islands 0

 

Sources

1. Ministry of Justice Data Tables: Harmful digital communication offences https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/research-data/justice-statistics/data-tables/
2. Net Safe Reports http://www.netsafe.org.nz
3. Prevalence and attitudes of Māori teenagers about sexting https://www.taiuru.co.nz/prevalence-attitudes-maori-teenagers-sexting/
4. Māori Experiences of Online Hate Speech https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-experiences-of-online-hate-speech/
5. Māori teens are more likely to be victims of online predators https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-more-likely-to-be-victims-of-online-predators/
6. Young Māori favor an online pornography filter https://www.taiuru.co.nz/data-how-young-maori-view-online-pornography/
7. Māori are still prominent victims of online bullying https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-are-still-prominent-victims-of-online-bullying/
8. Māori Internet Safety Statistics 2019 https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-internet-safety-statistics-2019/
9. Māori children’s access to the Internet https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-childrens-access-to-the-internet/
10. Māori statistics of online Hate Speech https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-statistics-of-online-hate-speech/
11. Māori Children online safety statistics analysis https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-children-online-safety-stats-analysis/