Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, expressed his shock after his deputy chief press secretary, Michael Forbes, resigned following serious accusations of secretly recording women. Forbes' phone was reportedly found to contain numerous unauthorized photographs and audio clips of women, including recordings from his encounters with sex workers. The scandal first came to public attention when a sex worker claimed that Forbes' device recorded audio while he was in the shower.
New Zealand Prime Minister Shocked as Aide Resigns Over Secret Recording Allegations
New Zealand Prime Minister Shocked as Aide Resigns Over Secret Recording Allegations
New Zealand's political landscape faces scrutiny as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's aide resigns amid serious allegations.
Forbes issued an apology to the women affected, acknowledging the harm caused by his actions. Local news outlet, Stuff, revealed disturbing details regarding the images found on Forbes' phone, including footage of women at the gym and in supermarkets, as well as four videos capturing women in their own homes from outside windows.
Prime Minister Luxon condemned Forbes' behavior, stating he had "zero tolerance" for any actions that contribute to a sense of insecurity among women. He emphasized that his sympathies lie with the women who brought these allegations forward. Following Forbes' resignation, Luxon, along with other political leaders, showed willingness to reconsider privacy laws aimed at better protecting individuals from voyeurism.
In a previous complaint filed with the police last July, a Wellington brothel reported that photos discovered on a client's phone raised concerns. However, authorities decided not to pursue legal action at the time, as they believed the evidence did not meet prosecution criteria. Forbes' encounter with a sex worker occurred in July 2024, and during that incident, he reportedly shared his phone password after being confronted about the concealed audio recording. Subsequent investigations revealed not only multiple audio recordings of similar encounters but also a trove of unauthorized photos and videos.
While Forbes was working under Minister Louise Upston at the time, he later became acting deputy press secretary to Luxon. Both Upston and Luxon stated they were unaware of the police complaint against Forbes. In his statement, Forbes mentioned that he was grappling with unresolved trauma and stress during the time of the incidents, which led to his misguided actions. He has since sought professional counsel but acknowledged a failure to properly apologize back then.
In light of this incident, Prime Minister Luxon has called for a comprehensive review of inter-agency processes, following police chief Richard Chambers' admission that the authorities had prior knowledge of the investigation into Forbes but did not inform government ministers. He stated, "We must take this incident seriously and evaluate how it transpired, as well as identify measures to prevent such occurrences in the future."
Prime Minister Luxon condemned Forbes' behavior, stating he had "zero tolerance" for any actions that contribute to a sense of insecurity among women. He emphasized that his sympathies lie with the women who brought these allegations forward. Following Forbes' resignation, Luxon, along with other political leaders, showed willingness to reconsider privacy laws aimed at better protecting individuals from voyeurism.
In a previous complaint filed with the police last July, a Wellington brothel reported that photos discovered on a client's phone raised concerns. However, authorities decided not to pursue legal action at the time, as they believed the evidence did not meet prosecution criteria. Forbes' encounter with a sex worker occurred in July 2024, and during that incident, he reportedly shared his phone password after being confronted about the concealed audio recording. Subsequent investigations revealed not only multiple audio recordings of similar encounters but also a trove of unauthorized photos and videos.
While Forbes was working under Minister Louise Upston at the time, he later became acting deputy press secretary to Luxon. Both Upston and Luxon stated they were unaware of the police complaint against Forbes. In his statement, Forbes mentioned that he was grappling with unresolved trauma and stress during the time of the incidents, which led to his misguided actions. He has since sought professional counsel but acknowledged a failure to properly apologize back then.
In light of this incident, Prime Minister Luxon has called for a comprehensive review of inter-agency processes, following police chief Richard Chambers' admission that the authorities had prior knowledge of the investigation into Forbes but did not inform government ministers. He stated, "We must take this incident seriously and evaluate how it transpired, as well as identify measures to prevent such occurrences in the future."
