Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Women
10 NOVEMBER 2015
Roast Busters Debate Refused
New Zealand First is disappointed that the Speaker declined a request for an urgent debate in Parliament today on a case
involving degrading acts against girls – a case that is being compared with the Roast Busters scandal.
“One of the similarities is that no charges were laid, only warnings given to the boys involved,” says Spokesperson for
Women Tracey Martin.
“The Speaker’s ruling was doubly disappointing as it is only eight months since Minister of Police Michael Woodhouse
spoke in Parliament on the failure of police in the Roast Busters case to act for a group of young women who were abused
and humiliated.
“The Minister said: ‘We need to make sure, firstly, that we prevent these offences from occurring and encourage young
women to speak up when they do, confident that they will be treated with respect, listened to, and believed’.
“But that has made no difference.
“Once again the young women of New Zealand have been let down by the inaction of some members of the New Zealand Police.
“At the very least the Minister should be asking why charges are not being laid under the Crimes (Intimate Covert
Filming) Amendment Bill 2005.
“Any uploaded video that shows that these young women could not consent to being photographed or filmed is all that is
required for the police to act.
“It would send a very clear message that this behaviour is totally unacceptable,” says Mrs Martin.
“The Minister also said he was confident the police response to Roastbusters did not reveal a culture of ambivalence
towards the complainants.
“Now it looks clear that there may be just such a culture in the police.”
ENDS