New Zealand Police have received more than 4,600 reports relating to stalking and harassment since the behaviour became a criminal offence, with hundreds of charges filed in court, according to figures obtained by 1News under the Official Information Act.
Of the 4,613 reports received, 4,386 were recorded as offences. Police have issued more than 900 stalking and harassment notices, while 227 charges had been filed in court as of Friday.
Three charges have resulted in convictions and sentencing, while 29 have been withdrawn.
According to a report by 1News, the Ministry of Justice said the small number of convictions at this stage "is not unusual for a new offence". However, the figures have encouraged those who campaigned for the law change, highlighting increased attention to stalking and harassment.
Among those who shared their experiences before the law came into effect was Zeni Gibson, who was stalked for almost a decade, beginning in her teenage years.
"I would take this experience to the grave if I could, but the idea of someone else experiencing what I was experiencing during the worst of it is just excruciating, to be honest," she said, as 1News has quoted.
Gibson said the behaviour began with unsolicited messages expressing affection before escalating into threats against her, her family and her friends.
"It developed from kind of these love-bombing type messages, which were very unsolicited, by saying that this person wanted to be with me, to much more threatening messages against not only me, but my family as well, and my friends," she said, as quoted by 1News.
While she believes the number of reported offences could encourage more victims to come forward, Gibson said the figures represented only part of the wider problem.
"The success of the law change is ultimately going to be judged on the experiences of victims coming forward. How did they feel? How did their lives change for them? What support did they receive?" 1News has quoted.
Janet McAllister, spokesperson for the Auckland Women's Centre, said stalking, like other forms of violence and abuse against women, was likely to be "massively under-reported".
She said victims could fear that seeking help would cause the stalking to escalate, while others might be reluctant to approach police because of a lack of trust.
"They may be concerned that the stalking will increase in response to their attempts to get support, but probably more importantly there are a number of reasons why people may not trust the police," she said, as quoted by 1News.
In a statement, NZ Police acting director of prevention, Inspector Natasha Allan, acknowledged that some victims had previously felt unheard or believed their experiences had not been fully understood.
"We also recognise that legislation alone is not enough. We need to ensure our people understand the impact of stalking, recognise patterns of escalating behaviour and respond with empathy and care. We worked to do that through our training and preparation for staff on the implementation of the new law," as quoted by 1News.
Allan said police remained committed to improving their response by "listening to victims’ experiences and ensuring their safety remains at the centre of our decision-making".
McAllister said about a quarter of the offences reported so far were related to family violence.
"For people who may be stalked by a colleague or a neighbour or a stranger or an acquaintance, that involves three-quarters of the reports to police so far.
"There are currently no ongoing specialised support services for them. This is a significant gap in the support services," she said.
However, New Zealand's Chief Victims Advisor, Ruth Money, said support was available through Victim Support, which is contracted by the Ministry of Justice to assist victims of crime, excluding specialised sexual and family violence services.
"So there are avenues where you can reach in and get support and navigation through the process," she said, as quoted by 1News.
The Ministry for Women said the emerging police data reinforced the need for greater public understanding of stalking and improved support for victim-survivors, as reported by 1News.
Gibson, who now lives in London, said she was eager to return to New Zealand but did not currently feel it was a viable option.
"It's funny moving from a beautiful safe haven like Wellington to a metropolis like London where there's just crime on every street, and I feel so much safer here.
"I love London, but I miss home so daily, and I can't wait to be in a position where I feel able to come home," she said, as quoted by 1News.