Latest news with #sexworkers
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Senior aide to New Zealand prime minister resigns over secret recordings of sex workers
A senior aide to New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon has resigned after being accused of secretly recording sex workers and taking non-consensual photos and videos of women. The allegations against Michael Forbes surfaced when a sex worker discovered his phone was recording audio while he was in the shower, NZ 's Stuff reported earlier this week. Mr Luxon's deputy chief press secretary has since offered his 'sincerest apologies to the women I have harmed'. PM Luxon called the revelations a 'shock' and said that Mr Forbes' behaviour was 'unacceptably short of the standards that I expect from our people'. 'My sympathy is with the women who raised these allegations and were made to feel unsafe due to the actions of this person,' Mr Luxon said on Thursday. According to Stuff, Mr Forbes' encounter with the sex worker took place in July 2024. After being confronted about the secret audio recording, he reportedly handed over his phone password. The woman, along with other sex workers from that brothel, discovered numerous audio recordings of similar sessions, along with photos and videos on the device. At the time, Mr Forbes was serving as press secretary to social development minister Louise Upston. He was appointed acting deputy chief press secretary to the prime minister in February this year. Police reportedly looked into the allegations in July last year but ultimately chose not to pursue charges. Mr Luxon said: 'We had no awareness, no knowledge of it. The concerns were raised with us by a journalist at four o'clock on Tuesday,' he said. The prime minister said that the police investigation was not disclosed to Mr Forbes' employer under the 'no surprises' convention, nor did Mr Forbes disclose the allegations himself. 'He was vetted coming into Louise Upston's office. As I understand it, the incidents happened subsequent to that,' he said. 'He has an obligation to actually declare those issues or those incidences to us. That didn't happen, which is why his employment would have been terminated.' In a statement to RNZ on Thursday, detective inspector John Van Den Heuvel from Wellington police said that 'on examining the phones, police also found a number of photos and video of women in public spaces, and what appears to be women in private addresses, taken from a distance away'. 'Police considered the available evidence and concluded it did not meet the requirements for criminality, and therefore charges could not be filed. 'The individual concerned voluntarily spoke with police and admitted to taking the images and recordings. He was reminded of the inappropriateness of his behaviour and encouraged to seek help.' Meanwhile, the prime minister said: 'When you have an incident like this, it actually creates a whole bunch of new questions.' He added: 'They need to do a deep dive on understanding how and what happened here and why. And importantly, then look at what we need to do to strengthen our processes.' In a statement, Mr Forbes said on Wednesday: 'In the past, I was in a downward spiral due to unresolved trauma and stress, and when confronted with the impacts of my behaviour a year ago, I sought professional help, which is something I wish I had done much earlier.' He said: 'What I failed to do then was make a genuine attempt to apologise. Instead, I tried to move on without offering those I had harmed the acknowledgement, accountability, or amends they deserved. I recognise how wrong that was.' 'I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do.' The office of Mr Forbes' former boss Mr Upston said in a statement: 'The minister was not aware of any allegations before they were raised with PMO yesterday. Minister Upston has nothing further to add to the PMs statement on this.'
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Aotearoa NZ sex workers collective on Forbes allegations
Cherida Fraser, Wellington co-ordinator for the Aotearoa New Zealand sex workers collective spoke to Lisa Owen about how the Prime Minister has ordered a review of vetting processes for parliamentary staff after his Deputy chief press secretary Michael Forbes quit following allegations he recorded intimate audio of sessions with sex workers and was in possession of intrusive photos of women. There were dozens of photos and footage on the former staffer's phone and some appear to have been recorded in public places and shot through windows at night. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Police seized work and personal phones of press secretary Michael Forbes while investigating complaints
Photo: LinkedIn/Michael Forbes Police say any new information regarding the Prime Minister's former deputy chief press secretary will be "thoroughly considered". Stuff reports that Michael Forbes, a former journalist, allegedly recorded audio of multiple sessions with Wellington sex workers, and amassed a gallery of women working out at the gym, shopping, and being filmed through a window getting ready to go out. Wellington District Manager Criminal Investigations Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel said in a statement to RNZ on Thursday evening that police received a report from the manager of a Wellington brothel on July 12 2024 , relating to audio recordings of sex workers. Police obtained a search warrant on July 13 to seize two phones for examination - one personal and one work device. "On examining the phones, Police also found a number of photos and video of women in public spaces, and what appears to be women in private addresses, taken from a distance away. "Police considered the available evidence and concluded it did not meet the requirements for criminality, and therefore charges could not be filed. "The individual concerned voluntarily spoke with Police and admitted to taking the images and recordings. He was reminded of the inappropriateness of his behaviour and encouraged to seek help." Forbes also deleted the images in the presence of Police. "Police acknowledge this man's behaviour was extremely distressing for the women involved and would like to reassure them that any new information will be thoroughly considered. "Based on the initial report and available evidence to date, Police are unable to progress the matter further." One of the sex workers who was allegedly recorded, Zara (not her real name) and another sex worker Fern (not her real name) released a joint statement to RNZ on Thursday. "The law urgently needs to catch up with the digital age. Covertly recording intimate encounters without consent is a form of sexual violence, yet current legislation fails to adequately protect victims - especially sex workers and those who identify as women. "We should be safe in public without images being captured of our bodies unbeknownst to us. Power imbalances across the board leave the potential for us to exploited, unheard, and unprotected. It's time for real legal reform that centres consent, safety, and accountability had allegedly recorded audio of a session with a sex worker." It comes after the madam of the brothel where Forbes allegedly recorded audio of a sex worker, told RNZ she wants something to be done about privacy laws when it comes to recording people without their knowledge. "This is an issue for all women, women are being recorded, photographed, filmed without their consent or knowledge and heaven only knows where it's ending up. This is the main issue and that's what needs to be focused on." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's deputy chief press secretary Michael Forbes (left) during a trip to India. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The Deparment of Internal Affairs said all Ministerial Services staff are subject to standard pre-employment checks when they are first employed. These checks include reference checks, serious misconduct checks and a criminal conviciton check. In addition, security clearances are required for some positions in Minister's offices. The department says these checks were completed when Michael Forbes was first employed by Ministerial Services and were not required for the later temporary assignment to the Prime Minister's office. "We acknowledge staff may be unsettled or feel their safety may have been compromised. We are committed to supporting our people and ensuring they feel, and are, safe at work." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the incidents, that were investigated by police but didn't lead to any charges, occurred after he was vetted to work for Social Development Minister Louise Upston. "He has an obligation to actually declare those issues or those incidents to us, that didn't happen which is why his employment would have been terminated obviously. "But there is a good question about making sure, and I have asked specifically for DIA (The Department of Internal Affairs) to look at vetting processes," Luxon said in a media conference at Parliament on Thursday morning. He added that the expectation was on Forbes to have raised the incidents with the Prime Minister's office "because it impacts the office and the reputation of the office, for obvious reasons, but that didn't happen". Luxon said DIA had kicked off a "deep dive into seeing what further actions are needed to actually strengthen our processes." Forbes moved from Upston's office to the Prime Minister's in February this year and "had the vetting that he needed to come into the Beehive". "We will look at that to make sure that there's anything else we could have done differently in that vetting." The Prime Minister wouldn't discuss what level of security clearance Forbes had in the Beehive. Luxon also had questions about whether the investigation should have been elevated by police to the Beehive. 'We have to take this incident and understand what has happened here and how it happened, and what more can we do about it. "I think it's a legitimate question to say what can we look at between the inter-agency processes, between the different agencies, whether it's police, whether it's the SIS or whether it's ministerial services." The Prime Minister was open to looking at privacy laws after a call for a law change by the madam of the brothel at the centre of the accusations against Forbes. "I'm open to looking at our settings, again as we go through this experience, we have a series of laws whether it's the harmful digital bill, whether it's the privacy laws, or now new stalking laws, but we're open to looking at that further as well." "I think many Kiwis will be incredibly concerned with this issue, as I am too." Luxon said he spoke to a number of women on Wednesday who work closely with Forbes and he said "understandably there's anger, it's distressing". Prime Minister Christopher Luxon takes questions at the Beehive after the resignation of press secretary Michael Forbes. Photo: Luxon said he understood it was a private phone, not a government issued one, that was used to capture the recordings and photos. Police commissioner Richard Chambers said he was first made aware of the issue late on Tuesday afternoon after a media inquiry. "I immediately contacted the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently informed the Police Minister under the no-surprises practise." It was raised with the police executive in July 2024, during the investigation into the complaint. It was not brought to the attention of Ministers or Ministerial Services at the time. "It is up to the commissioner of the day (Andrew Coster) to decide what to elevate by way of the no surprises convention. "Those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. It would be wrong for me to comment on decisions made by the then-executive because I do not know the information they were based on, or the reasons for those decisions. "In situations such as this, it should also be considered whether there is an obligation on an individual to raise any issues that might be relevant to their employment with their employer or prospective employer," he said. "Decisions around the handling of the investigation and questions about whether it should be re-visited are for Wellington District police to consider. I have absolute faith in them to do that." In a press conference, Chambers also said there would be different circumstances or reasons as to why a matter may or may not be elevated. "It is not the failure of my organisation at all. I think there are a number of responsibilities here on individuals to alert matters which they should understand could be problematic, in terms of prospective employment." Chamber's predecessor as Commissioner, Andrew Coster, said he had only learned of the investigation into Forbes through media reports. "I learned of this situation through the media in the last 24 hours. As I no longer have access to information about Police's processes I am unable to comment further," Coster said. That statement was put to Chambers, who said executive members know their responsibilities. "It is important that police executive members alert their Commissioner to matters that may need consideration." The madam of the Wellington brothel, which RNZ has agreed to not name, said she was at the brothel when a sex worker came out of a room and alleged Forbes was recording audio and showed her his phone. The madam went into the room while Forbes was in the shower and confronted him. "I said you were recording, have you done this before and he said 'uhuh'. I said you need to give me your pin number. "I went through his phone and I instantly found recordings that were named." She said she told Forbes she needed to keep his phone and he left. She then gave the phone to police. The madam alleged Forbes had "many recordings on his phone of sex workers". She knew of some of the women who had been recorded. "Those who needed to know found out they had been recorded," she says. The women were shocked, she said. It had been a "balancing act" for the women involved. "It's really tricky for sex workers to do things, sometimes because shit can come down on them. In a boys club like the one Michael Forbes is in who knows what the fallout could be. We are decriminalised, it's a legal business, there's a lot of discrimination against us, insurance companies banks and that." The women who had seen Forbes said he appeared "relatively respectful," the madam said. Forbes has offered an apology for the harm his actions caused to women. "I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the women I have harmed," he said in a statement. "In the past, I was in a downward spiral due to unresolved trauma and stress, and when confronted with the impacts of my behaviour a year ago, I sought professional help, which is something I wish I had done much earlier. "What I failed to do then was make a genuine attempt to apologise. Instead, I tried to move on without offering those I had harmed the acknowledgement, accountability, or amends they deserved. I recognise how wrong that was." Forbes said he spent the past year "reflecting on how I may have affected these women's sense of safety and ability to go about their lives and work". "No one should ever feel violated, unsafe, or disrespected, especially in spaces where they should feel secure, and I am truly sorry for contributing to an environment where women may have felt otherwise," he said. "The therapy I've received over the past year has helped me to understand the roots of my behaviour and begin addressing the patterns that led to it. This is a long-term commitment to change that I take very seriously. "I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do." RNZ asked Forbes on Wednesday evening if there was anything in the reporting he disputed or disagreed with. He replied "not really". But believed it was likely some of the photos were consensual ones of his partner. Asked for comment on Thursday morning about the comments from the madam of the brothel. He declined to comment further. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Politicians across political spectrum open to investigating law changes after press secretary's 'disturbing' allegations
Photo: LinkedIn/Michael Forbes The minister who a government press secretary was working for when police investigated him over claims made by sex workers told reporters today that her feelings are irrelevant. Michael Forbes quit on Wednesday from his position of deputy chief press secretary to the Prime Minister, and has apologised after accusations he recorded audio of sessions with sex workers, had intrusive photos of women in public and footage of women shot through windows at night. Forbes was working for Social Development Minister Louise Upston in July last year when police investigated but did not pursue charges. He didn't disclose the investigation to the minister, or his employer Ministerial Services, and didn't raise it with the Prime Minister's office when he moved to work there in February. Upston told media on Thursday afternoon she's more concerned about the women affected by his actions, than her own feelings. She said questions should be directed to Forbes about why he didn't disclose the fact police were investigating him to his employer. "That's a matter for him to answer to, that is absolutely a matter for him to answer to - not me," Upston said. "It was on him, and he didn't disclose that information." Upston said she's had substantial conversations with her team and acknowledges there's been a range of emotions from those who worked with Forbes. Natonal Party Minister Louise Upston. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Senior Minister Judith Collins said she had never heard complaints about Forbes behaviour, and was shocked to hear the allegations against him. He worked for Collins when she was the National Party opposition leader. She said questions about whether he should have been more thoroughly vetted or whether he posed a security risk were not for her to answer. "I think it's a matter that's being dealt with now by Internal Affairs, DIA, and so I think I'll leave it at that - but yeah I was pretty shocked," Collins said. On Thursday morning, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters he was open to looking at privacy laws after a call for a law change by the madam of the brothel at the centre of the accusations against Forbes. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said making audio recording illegal would be a significant change, and it's currently a well-settled law. "We can ask some questions about that but I wouldn't underestimate that that's a big change," he said. Goldsmith said no conversations about a change have started. New Zealand First's leader Winston Peters has not yet taken a position on whether privacy laws should change. While the madam of the Wellington brothel who confronted Forbes wants law changes to prevent people being recorded without their knowledge, Peters was not rushing to do so. "You've asked the right person and you're asking the right party, but I'm not in charge of the National Party," Peters said. "If you dissect the background of this, it may be this question would arise, but I don't know at this point in time because I haven't seen any information." ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden said she's open to a conversation about privacy laws, but not right now. She said people at Parliament will still be grappling with the news, calling them "very shocking" and "quite disturbing" allegations. "I also want to ensure we give the women who have complained and made this known the respect that they deserve without muddying this with a law change conversation," van Velden said. She said her thoughts go out to the women who are affected by Forbes' actions, adding the women were "quite brave" for going public. She said she's had conversations with sex workers about the type of work they do, and the "dangerous elements" involved in that work which she called eye-opening. Van Velden had also had conversations with cabinet colleagues about how sex workers could be more safe, but it's not a priority at this stage. ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said, like all workers, sex workers deserved to feel safe in their workplace. She was supportive of changes to privacy laws. "In my time as a former prevention of violence minister, these sorts of issues around privacy and consent across public spheres as well, have long been a conversation from this sector and from advocates. So, I think that's something we should all look at," Davidson said. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Senior Labour MP Barbara Edmonds said Labour was open to law changes, but it needed to discuss it as a caucus. "I think there was a lot of surprises into the different elements of all these allegations. So, we need to have a good look at it, see what the reports and reviews come out with, and make a decision as a caucus as to where we need to see areas of the law be tightened," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Wellington brothel madam speaks on PM's former press secretary's alleged recording of sex workers
Michael Forbes pictured during Christopher Luxon's visit to India. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi The madam of a Wellington brothel has spoken of the moment she was informed the Prime Minister's former deputy chief press secretary had allegedly recorded audio of a session with a sex worker. She wants something to be done about privacy laws when it comes to recording people without their knowledge. "This is an issue for all women, women are being recorded, photographed, filmed without their consent or knowledge and heaven only knows where it's ending up. This is the main issue and that's what needs to be focused on." Stuff reports that Michael Forbes, a former journalist, allegedly recorded audio of multiple sessions with Wellington sex workers, and amassed a gallery of women working out at the gym, shopping, and being filmed through a window getting ready to go out. Do you know more? Email The madam of the Wellington brothel, which RNZ has agreed to not name, said she was at the brothel when a sex worker came out of a room and alleged Forbes was recording audio and showed her his phone. The madam went into the room while Forbes was in the shower and confronted him. "I said you were recording, have you done this before and he said 'uhuh'. I said you need to give me your pin number. "I went through his phone and I instantly found recordings that were named." She said she told Forbes she needed to keep his phone and he left. She then gave the phone to police. The madam alleged Forbes had "many recordings on his phone of sex workers". She knew of some of the women who had been recorded. "Those who needed to know found out they had been recorded," she says. The women were shocked, she said. It had been a "balancing act" for the women involved. "It's really tricky for sex workers to do things, sometimes because shit can come down on them. In a boys club like the one Michael Forbes is in who knows what the fallout could be. We are decriminalised, it's a legal business, there's a lot of discrimination against us, insurance companies banks and that." The women who had seen Forbes said he appeared "relatively respectful," the madam said. RNZ understands that following the incident a warning alleging Forbes recorded audio of sex workers was sent to sex worker networks. The warning included a photo of Forbes. Wellington District Manager Criminal Investigations John Van Den Heuvel said in a statement, police received a complaint from a Wellington brothel in July last year, after a client was found to have concerning images and recordings on his phone. Police investigated and spoke to the individual. The case was filed as the event did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution. The madam said she got "slapped more on the wrist than [Forbes]" due to her going through his phone. "The fact it's not illegal what he did has made it extremely difficult. It looks worse for us than it did for him because it would be our word against his about how we had his phone." She was glad there had been media publicity. "I hope it serves as a warning to other people like that that are going around filming, recording, photographing. There's a lot of them, he's the tip of the iceberg." She said something needed to be done about the privacy laws when it came to recording people without their knowledge. "This is an issue for all women, women are being recorded, photographed, filmed without their consent or knowledge and heaven only knows where it's ending up. This is the main issue and that's what needs to be focused on." Forbes has offered an apology for the harm his actions caused to women. "I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the women I have harmed," he said in a statement. "In the past, I was in a downward spiral due to unresolved trauma and stress, and when confronted with the impacts of my behaviour a year ago, I sought professional help, which is something I wish I had done much earlier. "What I failed to do then was make a genuine attempt to apologise. Instead, I tried to move on without offering those I had harmed the acknowledgement, accountability, or amends they deserved. I recognise how wrong that was." Forbes said he spent the past year "reflecting on how I may have affected these women's sense of safety and ability to go about their lives and work". "No one should ever feel violated, unsafe, or disrespected, especially in spaces where they should feel secure, and I am truly sorry for contributing to an environment where women may have felt otherwise," he said. "The therapy I've received over the past year has helped me to understand the roots of my behaviour and begin addressing the patterns that led to it. This is a long-term commitment to change that I take very seriously. "I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do." RNZ asked Forbes on Wednesday evening if there was anything in the reporting he disputed or disagreed with. He replied "not really". But believed it was likely some of the photos were consensual ones of his partner. Asked for comment on Thursday morning about the comments from the madam of the brothel. He declined to comment further. A spokesperson from the prime minister's office said they were informed at 4pm on 3 June. "The matters were immediately raised with Ministerial Services and the prime minister was informed that evening. The allegations were serious and concerning. They were discussed with the staff member on the evening of June 3 and it was clear their employment was untenable," the spokesperson said. "It was agreed that the staff member was stood down that evening and they resigned the following morning. Had the staff member not resigned, we expect their employment would have been terminated after a short investigation. "As this is an employment matter between the individual and Ministerial Services, the Prime Minister will not be able to comment further." The Prime Minister is expected to address media at Parliament today . The office of Forbes' former boss Upston said: "The Minister was not aware of any allegations before they were raised with PMO yesterday. Minister Upston has nothing further to add to the PMs statement on this." When asked by RNZ why the minister, her office, the prime minister, or the Dignitary Protection Service were not informed of the police investigation into Forbes, Ministerial Services said any questions about the investigation should go to Police. It also did not answer whether there were any typical thresholds that would see Ministerial Services informed by police of an investigation into an employee. Deputy secretary partnerships and commissions Hoani Lambert said this was a "serious and concerning matter" for the department. "We were made aware of this matter late on 3 June and met with the employee that evening. The individual concerned is no longer employed by the Department. We are working with urgency to thoroughly understand what has happened. This includes further engagement with the NZ Police. As the employer, DIA has important obligations to provide a safe workplace and ensure people are held accountable for their behaviour. We are taking this matter seriously, we are moving quickly and ensuring accountability. We will not comment further at this time." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
