Sex complaints spike in NZ Defence Force

Forty-one sexual assault and harassment complaints were lodged in the NZ Defence Force, including one for sexual violation or rape, last year.

This was up 15 on the previous year and the highest figure in 10 years of data released to the Herald under the Official Information Act.

It shows the nature of the complaints, the rank, sex and age of the complainants, and the rank of the alleged offenders, with six officers accused last year.

Most complaints were from women against men but, since a new disclosure system was put in place, it seemed more men were also coming forward with claims they were abused by men in the NZDF.

The numbers showed the biggest spike in the number of complaints happened in the latter half of 2016.

The rise coincided with the implementation of the force’s new restricted disclosure system, which the NZDF said meant the high figures weren’t necessarily because there were more incidents.

Rather it showed an “increased confidence in our organisation to take complaints seriously and respond appropriately,” a spokesman said

“NZDF is confident that a decline in actual offending and inappropriate behaviour will occur.”

In early 2016, Operation Respect was launched as part of the NZDF’s efforts to “eliminate harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour” within its ranks.

As part of this a Sexual Assault Response team was introduced on June 30, along with a new, restricted disclosure system for its members to report any incidents.

The NZDF said its progress was being governed by a steering group that includes external members.

The changes followed an independent, external review of inappropriate behaviour in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, which highlighted there was a culture of sexist attitudes and behaviours, in particular against women.

Last year, four men lodged complaints, compared to a total of nine across the previous nine years.

There were a number of NZDF cases reported on last year, including that of the navy commander Philip Wiig who was found guilty of groping a more junior officer and was dismissed from service.