Threats and abuse becoming part of public life for Kiwi women

National's Auckland Central candidate Candace Kinser says fear of vitriol and abuse holds women back from entering politics. She has been abused for being an immigrant, and her campaign headquarters door was smashed in during the middle of the night, according to RNZ.

Kinser was born in America and has lived in New Zealand for nearly 30 years.

RNZ's current-affairs programme The Detail has produced a feature titled 'The rising toll of public life for Kiwi women'. It reports that for women in the public eye, death threats, trolling, insults and abuse are becoming part of the job. Many are questioning whether public life is worth the cost.

Tory Whanau has spoken candidly about the relentless online abuse she faced during her term in office, much of it racist and sexist.

Kiwi Olympic bronze medallist Marcus Daniell is calling on high-profile athletes, particularly men, to fight gender-based violence and abuse. In 2024 he created the One in Three movement to fight violence against women and girls. The name refers to the estimate that one in three women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

Daniell co-founded High Impact Athletes during his professional tennis career. The organisation connects elite athletes with charities.

Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympic marathoner, was killed by her former partner. He doused her with petrol and set her alight. The killing was reportedly over a land dispute in Kenya.